Cessna Citation CJ2

The Cessna Citation CJ2 takes the cabin of the CitationJet CJ1 and stretches it to 4.14 m, enough for six seats, four of them in a club arrangement, with a toilet behind the last row. Two Williams FJ44 engines sit at the tail, the cockpit has Collins Pro Line 21 avionics, and the type is certified for one pilot. Two versions fly in charter: the original CJ2 and the CJ2+ with stronger engines and more payload.

The Citation CJ2 works best for four to six people on legs of one to three hours: Paris to Geneva in 1:04 h, London to Nice in 1:56 h, Munich to Palma in 2:11 h. The limit is the cabin height of 1.45 m.

Six seats and no galley

Two pairs of seats face each other in the middle of the cabin, each pair with a fold-out table; the other two seats behind them face forward. Some Citation CJ2 aircraft add a side seat by the door, and on some the toilet seat has a belt for take-off and landing, which brings the certified maximum to eight. In charter six is the usual number, and for legs over two hours five is more comfortable.

The CJ2+ differs from the original mainly in its FJ44-3A-24 engines and a higher maximum take-off weight of 5,670 kg, which adds about 136 kg of payload. The cabin is identical, and the charter price hardly differs.

Suitcases, skis and golf bags

In the Citation CJ2 two external holds, in the nose and in the rear fuselage, take 1.84 m³ together, about five standard suitcases; with the cabin locker the baggage limit is 499 kg. Four passengers can bring large suitcases or skis, six should plan a medium suitcase and a cabin bag each.

A dog or cat can fly in the cabin next to its owner if the operator agrees before booking; give the breed, weight and carrier. In the EU the animal needs a microchip, a rabies vaccination (the first one at least 21 days before travel) and an EU pet passport. For Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway and the UK dogs also need tapeworm treatment 1-5 days before entry, and the UK admits animals only via approved routes and airports.

Citation CJ2 range, speed and airports

For the Citation CJ2+ Cessna quoted 2,871 km with four passengers and NBAA IFR reserves, and 2,987 km as maximum range; the original CJ2 has a little less range and payload. With every seat taken the distance shrinks by almost a third, and a westerly headwind takes off several hundred kilometres more. In the table the longest leg is Paris - Corfu, 1,731 km.

Landing needs 810 m at maximum weight, so the Citation CJ2 uses smaller airports close to the resorts:

• Cannes-Mandelieu with a 1,539 m runway and a 35 t weight limit
• Sion with a 2,000 m runway and a mountain approach
• Samedan at about 1,700 m elevation, only with a crew trained for the airport and with less weight on hot days
• Not Courchevel: the 537 m sloped altiport is too short for this jet and needs a special qualification; for the French ski resorts it lands at Chambéry or Geneva

London City needs an approval for the steep 5.5 degree approach that few Citation CJ2 aircraft have, so London trips usually end at Luton, Farnborough or Biggin Hill. The type may fly with one pilot; in charter most operators use two.

UK departures without passenger duty

With a maximum take-off weight of 5,670 kg the Citation CJ2+ stays under 5.7 t, so departures from the UK pay no Air Passenger Duty, unlike the CJ3 and larger jets. The Dutch passenger tax does not apply either, as it covers only aircraft of 5.7 t or more.

Citation CJ2 routes from European hubs

Thirty one-way routes start from all thirteen hubs, from Munich - Samedan (0:51 h) to Paris - Corfu (2:54 h), all non-stop with four passengers. On most of these short legs the Citation CJ2 costs less than a larger light jet and arrives almost as early.

Prices are for the whole aircraft with crew, before airport fees and passenger taxes; flight times include taxi, climb and approach.

Up to two hours: ski runways, Corsica, Sardinia and business trips

Two to three hours: the Balearics and the Greek islands

• With six on board and full baggage the operator recalculates the weight on legs over about two and a half hours, such as Milan - Mykonos
• Mykonos gives private aircraft about 40 minutes of parking in summer, so the jet waits at another airport
• Legs over about 2,000 km, such as Hamburg - Lisbon, work only with a light load, and the Canary Islands or Cyprus from Western Europe need a stop or a Citation CJ3 or Citation CJ4

The calculator shows an indicative price for this or another light jet on the route you choose; the quote then depends on where a free aircraft is based.

Citation CJ2 charter price

The rate starts at EUR 3,200 per flight hour for the whole aircraft, with crew and fuel. On short legs the total is clearly above rate times flight time, because positioning, the operator's minimum charge and airport fees are fixed: London - Paris takes 0:59 h and costs from EUR 8,000. On London - Nice (1:56 h) the price is from EUR 11,000 and on Paris - Corfu (2:54 h) in a Citation CJ2 from EUR 14,000.

London Farnborough - Nice, whole aircraft one way and per person, before taxes and airport fees:

Ways to pay less

• Come back the same day: no crew hotel and no second positioning, for example Paris - Geneva and back
• Take the aircraft based nearest to you, even at a slightly higher hourly rate
• Give a time window rather than a fixed hour
• An original CJ2 instead of a CJ2+ is often offered for less, with the same cabin

Empty Legs on the CJ2

Because many European operators fly the Citation CJ2, Empty Legs appear fairly often, mostly in summer between Switzerland, northern Italy, the Riviera, the Balearics and Sardinia. They can be 30-60% below a standard charter, but the date and route are fixed and the leg can be withdrawn if a full charter comes in. Send the route and a window of dates to empty-legs@jets.flights or follow the Empty Legs page; we always try to match, and each case depends on the operator.

Similar jets to compare

Clients considering the Citation CJ2 usually compare it with the shorter CJ1, the longer CJ3 and the newer but smaller M2.

Booking a flight

Send the route, date and time, the number of passengers and the baggage, with skis, golf bags and pets listed separately. If the toilet door, Wi-Fi or a CJ2+ matters, say so. We check free Citation CJ2 aircraft with operators holding an AOC and quote the operator, version, year and taxes. EU citizens flying to the UK need an ETA.

Cessna Citation CJ2: questions and answers

• • How much does a Citation CJ2 cost per flight?

  • From EUR 3,200 per flight hour for the whole aircraft. Paris - Geneva costs from EUR 8,500, London - Geneva from EUR 10,000 and Munich - Palma from EUR 12,000 one way, before airport fees and passenger taxes.

• • What makes up the price?

  • Flight time, positioning, crew costs on overnight trips, airport and handling fees, passenger taxes, catering and winter de-icing. The quote lists each item.

• • How can I pay less?

  • Return the same day, accept an original CJ2 instead of a CJ2+ and ask about Empty Legs. Departures from the UK carry no Air Passenger Duty on a Citation CJ2.

• • Are there Empty Legs on the Citation CJ2?

  • Fairly often, especially in summer towards the Riviera, the Balearics and Sardinia. They can be 30-60% cheaper, but the date is fixed and the leg can be cancelled.

• • How many people fit in a Citation CJ2?

  • Six in the usual layout; the certificate allows eight, but such aircraft are rare in charter. On legs over two hours four or five travel in comfort.

• • Is there a toilet on board?

  • Yes, at the rear behind the seats, usually without a washbasin. Whether it has a door or a curtain depends on the aircraft, and we check it on request.

• • Can the Citation CJ2 fly to the Balearics or Greece without a stop?

  • With four passengers yes: Munich - Palma takes 2:11 h and Paris - Corfu 2:54 h. With six people and full baggage the weight and the wind decide, and the Canary Islands from Central Europe are beyond its range.

• • Can it land at Samedan, Courchevel or London City?

  • Samedan yes, with a crew trained for the airport and possibly less weight on hot days. Courchevel no, the jet uses Chambéry or Geneva instead. London City only with the rare steep-approach approval, otherwise Luton, Farnborough or Biggin Hill.

• • Will skis fit, and can my dog come?

  • With four people skis and golf bags fit next to the suitcases; with six send the number and length of the bags first. A dog flies in the cabin with the operator's consent, a microchip, rabies vaccination and an EU pet passport.