2024 was a good year for general aviation as nearly all segments of the industry saw increases in shipments. Billings topped $31.2 billion, a 13.3% increase from 2023.
According to the 2024 General Aviation Aircraft Shipment and Billing Report from the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, piston airplane sales increased 4.2% to 1,772, turboprops declined by 1.9% to 626, and business jets increased 4.7% to 764.
The value of airplane deliveries for 2024 was $26.7 billion, an increase of 14.3%.
Meanwhile, 2024 helicopter sales stayed pretty consistent with 2023 sales, according to the report.
It shows that 210 piston helicopters were delivered in 2024, compared to 209 in 2023, while preliminary figures show that 746 turbine helicopters were delivered, compared to 743 in 2023.
The preliminary value of helicopter deliveries for 2024 was $4.5 billion, an increase of approximately 7.6% from 2023 sales.
“As we report on the strength of the general aviation manufacturing industry over the past year, it is notable that for the first time in a decade our companies again exceeded $30 billion in annual billings and, for the second year in a row, we shipped more than 4,000 units,” noted Pete Bunce, GAMA president and CEO. “This strong performance provides great momentum into 2025, but it is essential that policymakers and regulators on both sides of the Atlantic recognize that for continued growth, they must work with industry on policy issues such as taxes, trade, regulations and supply chain.
“General aviation is at the forefront of advancing technology that makes flying safer and more sustainable, while providing efficient and reliable global economic connectivity and air accessibility to rural and small communities that lack commercial airline services,” he continued. “It would be a travesty to see any of this progress halted due to policy decisions that could have unintended consequences for an industry that contributes so much.”
You can see the full 2024 report, which includes a breakdown of each manufacturer’s sales, at GAMA.aero.
