Cessna Citation III

The Cessna Citation III is a twin-engine midsize jet, the first Citation with a swept wing, built to a supercritical design. On the same model 650 Cessna later built the simpler Citation VI and the more powerful Citation VII.

The cabin is 1.73 m high and 1.68 m wide, the same cross-section as in the later Excel and XLS. It usually has six club seats, and a belted toilet seat gives a seventh place. With four on board the jet flies non-stop from Geneva to Tenerife or from Paris to Larnaca.

The cabin for four to seven

The Citation III cabin is about 5.5 m long, 1.73 m high and 1.68 m wide. The typical layout has six seats: a club group of four and a facing pair, with tables that slide out from the sidewall. The seats recline, but there is no bed.

• The toilet is at the rear; whether it closes with a door or a sliding panel depends on the interior
• A drinks cabinet with a chilled compartment, coffee and hot water, but no oven, so catering is cold
• A flight attendant is not usual and depends on the aircraft
• Wi-Fi is rare; a satellite phone is more common

Baggage: a tail hold for about six suitcases

The Citation III hold is loaded from the apron and cannot be reached in flight; coats and small bags go in cabin lockers.

• Four people: suitcases plus a golf bag or two pairs of skis in bags
• Six people: one large suitcase and a backpack each
• Larger equipment: mention it before the quote, as the door limits length and width

Speed, altitude and runways

Two Honeywell TFE731-3B engines give the Citation III its 874 km/h. Cessna gave 4,349 km with two pilots and four passengers; with every seat taken, NBAA reserves and an alternate 370 km away, Business Jet Traveler puts the range at about 2,850 km. Two pilots always fly.

At full weight the Citation III needs about 1,700 m of runway, which rules out several small airports:

• Cannes-Mandelieu (1,539 m): only with a lighter take-off after the operator's calculation, so Nice is the usual choice
• Samedan, at about 1,700 m elevation: summer heat limits the take-off weight further
• London City and Lugano: we found no steep-approach approval for the type, so we plan Farnborough, Luton or Biggin Hill, and Milan for Lugano
• Courchevel: the sloped 537 m altiport is too short for the type and needs a special qualification; Chambéry or Geneva is used

Flying an older type in Europe

Citation III routes from European hubs

Thirty one-way routes from the thirteen hubs, from Paris - Geneva (1:01 h) to Paris - Larnaca (4:14 h), all non-stop and all to airports with long enough runways. Prices are for the whole aircraft with crew and fuel, before airport fees and passenger taxes.

Quick legs up to two hours

Two to four hours with a full cabin

Over four hours, with a smaller group

The calculator gives an indicative price for a midsize jet such as the Citation III on your route.

What a Citation III charter costs

The rate starts at EUR 4,500 per flight hour for the whole aircraft with crew and fuel, whatever the number of passengers. A short flight costs more than the rate: Paris Le Bourget - Geneva (1:01 h) starts at EUR 9,500, because taxi, climb, approach and the operator's minimum charge are the same on any leg.

Longer legs use the hours better. London Farnborough - Rome (2:20 h) starts at EUR 15,000 and Larnaca - Dubai (3:26 h) at EUR 20,000. With so few aircraft, the distance to the nearest free one matters as much as the route.

London Farnborough - Nice for the whole aircraft and per passenger:

How to pay less

Ask for two quotes at once: the Citation III and a newer midsize type based closer. The newer jet may have a similar hourly rate, but the shorter positioning, or an Empty Leg, often makes it cheaper. A same-day return on short legs saves the crew hotel, and flexible times help the operator fit your trip into the aircraft's schedule.

Empty Legs on the Citation III

Citation III or a newer jet

Clients asking for the Citation III usually compare its two sisters from the same model 650 and newer Cessnas with the same cabin cross-section.

Asking for a quote

Send the route, date, number of passengers and baggage, and tell us whether another type is acceptable. For a rare model like this one we prepare an alternative offer straight away. We work only with operators holding an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) and always try to give two options, but each case depends on the operator's contract. EU citizens travelling to the UK need an ETA.

Citation III: frequent questions

• • How much does a Citation III flight cost?

  • For the whole aircraft one way, Milan Linate - London Farnborough starts at EUR 12,500, Nice - Lisbon at EUR 15,000 and London Farnborough - Athens at EUR 21,000. Airport fees, passenger taxes and any positioning come on top.

• • What makes up the price?

  • Flight hours with fuel, the positioning flight from the aircraft's base, crew costs on trips of several days, airport and handling fees and passenger taxes, such as EUR 100 per passenger leaving Italy on legs up to 1,500 km.

• • How can I fly cheaper?

  • Let us quote a newer midsize jet based nearer alongside, return the same day on short legs and keep the dates flexible.

• • Are there Empty Legs on the Citation III?

  • Rarely, since few aircraft fly. One that fits can be 30-60% cheaper, but it has a fixed date and route and may be cancelled.

• • How many people fit?

  • Seven in the typical Citation III: six in the seats and one on the belted toilet seat. Six travel comfortably; on legs over three hours four or five is better, as the jet can then take more fuel and bags.

• • Is there a toilet on board?

  • Yes, at the rear. In many aircraft its seat is also a belted place, and whether it closes with a door or a panel depends on the interior, so we show photos.

• • How far can it fly without a stop?

  • Cessna gave 4,349 km with four passengers; with every seat taken it is about 2,850 km. London Farnborough - Athens works with a full cabin; Tenerife from Geneva needs a smaller group.

• • Will skis and golf bags fit?

  • With four people usually yes; with six there is room mainly for suitcases. Give the number and length so the operator can check they pass the door.

• • Can my dog travel with us?

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

• • Which airports are out of reach?

  • Courchevel and usually London City and Lugano; Cannes-Mandelieu only with a lighter load. We plan Chambéry, Farnborough or Nice instead.