Cessna Citation Excel

The Cessna Citation Excel is the first version of the model 560XL, the family that went on to the XLS, XLS+ and XLS Gen2. Cessna joined a shortened Citation X fuselage to a stretched Citation V wing and two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW545A engines. The cabin places it among midsize jets: 1.73 m high along the dropped aisle, 1.68 m wide and 5.64 m long, with eight seats and a toilet behind a door.

Cabin: dropped aisle and eight seats

The aisle floor sits lower than the seats, giving 1.73 m of headroom down the middle of the Citation Excel cabin. According to AOPA, people up to about 1.80 m stand upright there, while taller passengers bend their head a little. Beside the windows the ceiling is lower; the 1.68 m width is more than in Cessna's light jets.

The usual layout, seen from the door:

• a drinks cabinet and a wardrobe by the entrance
• a two-seat side couch opposite
• four club seats with fold-out tables
• two forward-facing seats at the back, plus a side seat in some aircraft
• the toilet in its own compartment with a door

Baggage: the large tail hold

The tail hold of the Citation Excel is loaded from the apron and cannot be reached in flight, so keep medicines and documents with you. The hold usually takes seven or eight suitcases, or four to six golf bags or pairs of skis.

• Six people: a large suitcase and a cabin bag each
• Eight with skis: send the number and length of the ski bags before the quote

A dog or cat flies in the cabin next to you once the operator has approved it. Within the EU it needs a microchip, an EU pet passport and a rabies vaccination at least 21 days before travel; Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway and the UK also require tapeworm treatment for dogs 1-5 days before entry.

Performance and airports

With eight people and full baggage the Citation Excel flies a shorter distance, and winter westerlies cut into it on the way to Portugal. Two pilots fly every charter. The short take-off run opens smaller airports:

What matters in Europe

Citation Excel routes from European hubs

Thirty-one one-way routes from all thirteen hubs, from Frankfurt - Samedan (1:02 h) to Larnaca - Milan (3:39 h), all without a fuel stop. Prices are for the whole aircraft with crew and fuel, before airport fees and passenger taxes.

Alpine and Riviera hops up to two hours

Two to four hours: Iberia, the Aegean and Morocco

• Switzerland, the Riviera, Sardinia and the Balearics: non-stop with all eight seats taken
• Lisbon, Marrakesh and Larnaca - Milan: close to the limit, so with eight on board, skis and a headwind the operator may limit bags or plan a stop
• The Canary Islands and the Gulf: always a stop, or a longer-range jet such as the Citation Latitude

The calculator gives an indicative price for the Citation Excel or a jet of the same class on your route, from any airport in Europe.

What a Citation Excel charter costs

The rate starts at EUR 4,500 per flight hour for the whole aircraft with two pilots and fuel. A short leg costs more than rate times block time: Munich - Sion takes 1:03 h and starts at EUR 9,000, because positioning, the minimum charge and handling come with every departure.

Longer legs spread these costs: London Farnborough - Nice (1:53 h) starts at EUR 13,000, Geneva - Lisbon (2:30 h) at EUR 15,500 and Vienna - Lisbon (3:34 h) at EUR 21,000. The Citation Excel is priced per aircraft, so with eight on board each person pays half of what four would.

London Farnborough - Nice for the whole aircraft and per passenger, before airport fees and taxes:

How to pay less for the flight

• Accept an XLS as an alternative: the same cabin, and one may be parked closer
• Fly back the same day on short legs such as Zurich - Cannes, so the pilots need no hotel
• Give the return date at once: for a stay of several days the operator compares parking and crew hotels with two empty flights
• Keep the departure time flexible, so an aircraft finishing a nearby trip can take yours

Empty Legs on the Excel

As the 560XL family is so common in Europe, Empty Legs on the Citation Excel and XLS come up regularly, in summer mostly between northern Italy, the Riviera, Switzerland, the Balearics and Sardinia, in winter towards the Alps. As examples, they sell at 30-60% below the regular price.

Similar jets to compare

Clients weighing the Citation Excel usually compare it with the later XLS, the lighter Phenom 300 and the larger Citation Latitude.

Booking a Citation Excel

Tell us in the request:

• route, date and departure time
• passengers and baggage, with skis, golf bags and pets listed separately
• the return date, which decides whether the aircraft waits for you
• whether London City, Samedan or Sion is planned, and whether an XLS is acceptable

We work only with operators holding an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) and always try to offer two options, but each case depends on the operator's contract. EU citizens flying to the UK need an ETA.

Citation Excel: frequent questions

• • How much does a Citation Excel flight cost?

  • From EUR 4,500 per flight hour for the whole aircraft. Paris Le Bourget - Nice costs from EUR 11,000 and Geneva - Athens from EUR 17,000 one way, plus airport fees and passenger taxes.

• • What makes up the price?

  • Flight time with fuel, positioning, crew costs on trips of several days, airport and handling fees and passenger taxes. So Zurich - Cannes (1:06 h) starts at EUR 9,500, about twice the hourly rate.

• • How can I pay less?

  • Accept an XLS based nearer, fly back the same day on short legs, keep the departure time flexible and fill the seats.

• • Are there Empty Legs on the Citation Excel?

  • Fairly often, as the 560XL family is common in Europe. One that fits can cost 30-60% less, but the date and route are fixed and the leg may be cancelled.

• • How many passengers fit, and can you stand up?

  • Usually eight: six single seats and a two-seat couch, with a ninth side seat in some aircraft. The 1.73 m dropped aisle lets people up to about 1.80 m stand upright.

• • Is there a proper toilet?

  • Yes, at the rear in a separate compartment with a door, not behind a curtain.

• • How far does it fly without a stop?

  • 3,069 km with four passengers and IFR reserves. Larnaca - Milan is flown non-stop, close to the limit with a full cabin; the Canary Islands need a stop.

• • Will skis and golf bags fit?

  • Usually: the tail hold takes four to six golf bags or pairs of skis. With eight on board give their number and length, as weight is the real limit.

• • Can my dog come along?

  • Usually yes, in the cabin next to you, once the operator of the aircraft agrees. For the UK it must arrive via an approved route at an airport that accepts animals.

• • Can it land at London City or Courchevel?

  • London City yes, with an operator and crew approved for the steep approach. Courchevel no: the 537 m altiport is too short, so Chambéry or Geneva is used.