Cessna Citation CJ3

The Cessna Citation CJ3 is a light jet with two Williams FJ44-3A turbofans and certification for single-pilot operation. Its cabin has the same cross-section as the smaller Citation M2 but is 1.43 m longer, which leaves room for six proper seats, an enclosed toilet and a drinks cabinet. Cessna has delivered more than 600 aircraft of the series, so European operators have plenty of them and a free aircraft near the departure airport is usually easy to find.

For trips of one to four hours from European hubs the Citation CJ3 covers a wide map:

• Munich to Samedan or Nice to Sion in under an hour, with skis in the rear hold
• London Farnborough to Geneva in 1:33 h and to Nice in 1:56 h
• Nice to Lisbon (2:32 h) and Madrid to Gran Canaria (2:57 h) without refuelling
• London to Marrakesh in 3:39 h, the longest leg in the table

Six seats, a toilet with a door and cold catering

Four seats face each other in pairs in the middle of the cabin, with fold-out tables between them. Behind them two more seats face forward, and the enclosed toilet closes off the rear. Those two rear seats have less legroom, so they suit children or the shorter members of the group. Opposite the door there is a small cabinet for drinks and cold snacks.

The wing of the Citation CJ3 sits under the fuselage and no spar crosses the cabin, so the floor stays level from the door to the toilet.

Three versions fly under the Citation CJ3 name, with the same cabin, engines and range:

• the original CJ3 with Collins Pro Line 21 avionics
• the CJ3+ with a Garmin G3000 flight deck, better sound insulation and newer cabin materials and lighting
• the CJ3 Gen2 with new seats, wireless charging, autothrottle and a toilet serviced from outside, optionally with a washbasin

Suitcases, skis and golf bags

In the Citation CJ3 the bags travel in two holds loaded from outside: one in the nose and a larger one in the rear fuselage, long enough for a pair of skis. Neither can be reached in flight, so keep medicines, documents and chargers with you in the cabin.

• Six people: a medium suitcase and a cabin bag each
• Four people: large suitcases plus ski bags or golf bags
• Skis and golf: give the number and length of the bags, because the length of the hold matters more than its volume

A dog or cat flies in the cabin next to its owner once the operator has agreed. Give us the breed, weight and carrier with the request. Within the EU the animal needs a microchip, a rabies vaccination (the first one at least 21 days before travel) and an EU pet passport. Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway and the UK also require tapeworm treatment for dogs 1-5 days before entry, and the UK accepts animals only via approved routes and airports.

Citation CJ3 speed, range and airports

Cessna gives the 3,778 km for an aircraft without passengers at economy cruise, with IFR fuel reserves for an alternate 185 km away. With four passengers the Citation CJ3 flies more than 2,700 km. Six to eight on board, or a westerly headwind on the way to Portugal, the Canary Islands or Morocco, shorten the real figure, and the operator plans the fuel for each flight.

At its maximum take-off weight of 6,291 kg and at sea level the aircraft needs 969 m to take off and 844 m to land, which opens smaller airports near the resorts:

• Cannes-Mandelieu, a 1,539 m runway with a 35 t weight limit that sends heavy jets to Nice
• Sion in Valais with a 2,000 m runway and a mountain approach
• Samedan near St. Moritz at about 1,700 m elevation: only crews with the mandatory airport training, instrument approaches by day only, and on hot days a lower take-off weight
• Not Courchevel: the 537 m sloped altiport is too short for this jet and needs a special qualification

London City, with a 1,508 m runway and a 5.5 degree approach, takes the Citation CJ3 only when both the aircraft and the crew are approved for the steep approach. Few CJ3 operators hold that approval, so a London trip usually ends at Luton, Farnborough or Biggin Hill. If London City or Samedan is the goal, say so in the request and we look only at operators with the right approvals.

European rules that affect this jet

Inside one EU country, such as Paris - Nice, the leg must be flown by an EU operator; UK domestic legs stay with UK operators. We choose the operator to match the route.

Citation CJ3 flights from European hubs

Thirty-two one-way routes start from all thirteen hubs, from Munich - Samedan (0:51 h) to London - Marrakesh (3:39 h), all without a fuel stop. They cover short hops to the mountains and islands, two-hour business legs and the longest sectors that still make sense with four or five on board.

Prices are for the whole aircraft with crew, before airport fees and passenger taxes. Flight time is the great-circle distance plus taxi, climb and approach.

Up to two hours: ski airports, the Riviera and the big business cities

Two to four hours: Iberia, the Greek islands and North Africa

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

Citation CJ3 charter price

The rate starts at EUR 3,200 per flight hour for the whole aircraft, with crew and fuel. On a short leg the total is well above the rate multiplied by the flight time: Munich - Samedan in a Citation CJ3 takes 0:51 h and starts at EUR 8,000, Paris - Geneva (1:04 h) at EUR 8,500. Positioning, the operator's minimum charge and the airport costs weigh heavily on such a hop.

From two hours upwards the hourly part takes over. Nice - Lisbon (2:32 h) costs from EUR 13,500 and Paris - Athens (3:26 h) from EUR 16,500. The price does not change with the number of passengers, so six people share the same figure as two.

London Farnborough - Nice for the whole aircraft and split between the passengers, before taxes and airport fees:

How to pay less

• Same-day return on a short leg such as Paris - Geneva or Milan - Paris: no crew hotel and no second positioning
• Flexible departure time, so an aircraft finishing a trip nearby can take you
• For a return after several days, compare the crew waiting with two separate one-way flights; the quote shows both when the difference matters
• An original Citation CJ3 instead of a CJ3+ or Gen2: the flight time is the same and older aircraft are often cheaper per hour
• Two or three people on a one-hour hop: a Citation M2 costs less per hour

Seats shared with strangers on a Citation CJ3 are rare and hard to plan, so we do not build quotes on them.

Empty Legs on the CJ3

With more than 600 built, the Citation CJ3 is common in Europe, and Empty Legs appear regularly: in summer between Germany, Switzerland, the Riviera, the Balearics and Sardinia, in winter towards Geneva, Sion and Chambéry. They can be 30-60% below a standard charter, for example when an aircraft returns empty from Palma or Olbia to its base.

Similar jets to compare

Clients who look at the Citation CJ3 usually also weigh the shorter CJ2 and the longer CJ4 of the same family, the Phenom 300 in the same class and the Citation XLS with its taller cabin.

Booking a flight

Put the following into the request:

• route, date and preferred departure time
• number of passengers and baggage, with skis, golf bags and pushchairs listed separately
• pets: species, breed, weight and carrier
• a preference for the CJ3+ or Gen2, since it narrows the choice of operators
• special airports such as London City, Samedan or Madeira

We check free aircraft with operators holding an Air Operator Certificate and send a quote with the operator, the version and year of the aircraft, positioning and taxes. Within Schengen there is no passport control, but the operator needs passport or ID details for every passenger; EU citizens flying to the UK need an ETA.

Cessna Citation CJ3: questions and answers

• • How much does a Citation CJ3 flight cost?

  • The rate starts at EUR 3,200 per flight hour. London Farnborough - Geneva costs from EUR 10,000, London - Nice from EUR 11,500 and Zurich - Lisbon from EUR 14,500 for the whole aircraft one way. Airport fees and passenger taxes come on top.

• • Why does a one-hour flight cost more than the hourly rate?

  • Each departure carries fixed costs: positioning of the aircraft, the operator's minimum charge and airport and handling fees. On Paris - Geneva (1:04 h) they make up most of the EUR 8,500; on a three-hour leg they matter much less.

• • What is added to the table price?

  • Airport and handling fees, the passenger tax of the departure country, catering and de-icing in winter. A Paris departure adds about EUR 420 per passenger in French tax on a European route, more on longer ones (about EUR 1,015, rising to EUR 2,100 beyond 5,500 km); a Milan departure EUR 100 per passenger up to 1,500 km. The quote lists every item.

• • How can I fly the Citation CJ3 more cheaply?

  • Return the same day on short legs, keep the departure time flexible and accept an original CJ3 rather than a newer version. For two or three people on a one-hour hop the Citation M2 is usually cheaper.

• • Are there Empty Legs on this jet?

  • Yes, fairly often, because many European operators fly it. They can be 30-60% below a normal charter, but the date and route are fixed and the leg can be cancelled. Send your route and dates to empty-legs@jets.flights.

• • What is the difference between the CJ3, CJ3+ and Gen2?

  • Mainly the flight deck and the cabin finish: Collins Pro Line 21 in the original, Garmin G3000 in the CJ3+, plus new seats, wireless charging and a reworked toilet in the Gen2. Cabin size, speed and range are the same.

• • How many passengers can travel?

  • Six in full seats. With a side seat by the door and a belted toilet seat the aircraft takes eight, but the cabin is then full. Eight people travel more comfortably in a Citation XLS.

• • Is there a proper toilet?

  • Yes, an enclosed compartment with a door at the rear. As standard it has only a WC; the Gen2 can have a washbasin.

• • Can the Citation CJ3 fly to Lisbon or Marrakesh without a stop?

  • Yes with four or five passengers and normal winds: Nice - Lisbon takes 2:32 h and London - Marrakesh 3:39 h. With a full cabin or a strong headwind the operator may plan a fuel stop, and London - Gran Canaria (2,870 km) usually needs one.

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

  • Skis and golf bags usually fit next to the suitcases with four or five people, as the rear hold is long enough for a pair of skis. A dog flies in the cabin next to you once the operator has agreed; for the UK the flight must land at an airport that accepts animals.