Cessna Citation Longitude

The Cessna Citation Longitude is a super midsize jet and the largest aircraft in the Citation family that Textron Aviation builds. Its cabin has a flat floor from the cockpit to the rear wall and measures 7.67 m in length, 1.83 m in height and 1.96 m in width, so most adults walk upright. The usual layout is eight seats in two club groups, and behind the cabin lies a hold that passengers can enter throughout the flight.

From European hubs the Citation Longitude suits:

• legs of two to six hours to Portugal, Cyprus, Morocco and the Canary Islands without a stop
• the Gulf, Amsterdam - Dubai included, when the airspace on the route allows
• night flights on which four people sleep on seats that fold fully flat

Citation Longitude cabin: two club groups and room to sleep

In the standard Citation Longitude layout eight seats stand in two groups of four, facing each other in pairs with tables between them. Both groups fold down into beds, so four people can sleep flat on a night flight. Some aircraft have a three-seat sofa in place of two seats or an extra side seat by the door. The type is certified for up to 12 passengers, but such dense layouts cost galley space or comfort.

• The galley at the front has running water, where the crew prepares coffee and drinks; whether meals can be heated depends on the equipment of the aircraft
• The toilet is at the rear of the cabin
• At 13,716 m the cabin pressure equals about 1,800 m, and Textron promotes the cabin as the quietest in its class
• Two pilots always fly the jet, while a flight attendant depends on the operator and usually costs extra
• Internet over Europe depends on the aircraft and the system fitted, so we confirm it in the quote

Baggage, skis and golf bags

In the Citation Longitude the hold lies behind the cabin inside the pressurised fuselage, so it can be reached at any altitude. A change of clothes or a wash bag can be fetched during the flight instead of being kept at the seat.

• Four people: large suitcases, skis in covers and golf bags
• Eight people: one large suitcase and one hand bag each
• Six adults with suitcases stay within the weight limit even with full tanks

Engines, range and airports

Two Honeywell HTF7700L engines of 34.1 kN each lift the Citation Longitude to 13,106 m (43,000 ft) within 20 minutes of take-off, and the cockpit has Garmin G5000 avionics. Textron quotes the range for four passengers, Mach 0.80 and NBAA IFR reserves. With eight on board and a strong headwind the real distance is shorter, so the table plans non-stop legs up to about 5,500 km.

At the maximum take-off weight of 17,917 kg and sea level the Citation Longitude needs 1,466 m of runway:

• Cannes-Mandelieu (1,539 m) can be used, but in hot weather the operator may reduce the weight
• Lugano (1,414 m) is too short at full weight, and we found no steep-approach approval for the type, so trips to Lugano land in Milan
• London City also requires a steep approach, so London flights use Farnborough, Luton or Biggin Hill
• Samedan and Sion need a crew trained for the airport, and Courchevel cannot be used

Flying the type in Europe

Sample flights from European hubs

The table runs Citation Longitude flights from one-hour hops such as Nice - Olbia to non-stop legs to Gran Canaria, Doha and Dubai, plus New York with a fuel stop. Prices are for the whole aircraft one way with crew, without airport fees and passenger taxes. Flight time follows the shortest route with taxi, climb and approach added.

Up to 2 hours: Riviera, Alps and city pairs

2 to 4 hours: Greece, Morocco, Portugal and the Atlantic islands

Over 4 hours: Gulf, Israel, Canaries and New York with a stop

• Every route except New York is flown without a stop, Amsterdam - Dubai (5,186 km, 6:49 h) and Frankfurt - Doha (6:06 h) included
• Gulf routes depend on which airspace is open, so the operator confirms the flight time in the quote
• London Farnborough - Dubai, about 5,531 km, sits just beyond our non-stop planning limit and is quoted with a fuel stop or a lighter load
• To New York the jet usually refuels in Iceland or Ireland
• Madeira accepts only captains with a special qualification, which the operator checks before confirming Zurich - Madeira

On short legs such as Nice - Olbia (0:56 h) or Milan - Paris with two or three passengers, a midsize jet is cheaper. The Citation Longitude gives the most for the money with a full cabin on legs from three hours.

The calculator shows an indicative price for the Citation Longitude or an aircraft of the same class on your route.

How much does a Citation Longitude charter cost

The Citation Longitude rate starts at EUR 6,300 per flight hour for the whole aircraft with two pilots and fuel, whether four or eight people travel. On short legs the total is well above rate times time, because positioning, the operator's minimum charge and fixed departure costs fall on a short flight: Nice - Olbia (0:56 h) costs from EUR 12,000 and London - Geneva (1:25 h) from EUR 15,000.

In the middle of the range the price comes closer to the rate, with Paris - Lisbon (2:17 h) from EUR 20,000 and London - Athens (3:28 h) from EUR 28,000. The longest non-stop legs carry a long duty day and often an empty return, so Frankfurt - Doha is from EUR 43,000 and Amsterdam - Dubai from EUR 47,000.

The quote covers the whole aircraft, so on London - Athens the share per person drops as more seats are used:

What makes a trip cheaper or dearer

Empty Legs on this type

There are fewer Citation Longitude aircraft in Europe than midsize jets, so Empty Legs on the type are less frequent than on the Challenger 350. They appear when an aircraft returns to base after a long trip, for example from the Gulf, the Canaries or the islands, and can be 30-60% below the normal price, as examples.

Citation Longitude or Challenger 350

The Citation Longitude is compared most often with the Challenger 350, the smaller Citation Latitude, the Gulfstream G280 and the larger Challenger 605.

How to book

For the quote we need:

We ask AOC operators for a free Citation Longitude and quote with positioning included. Within Schengen there is no passport control, but the operator needs a passport or ID for each passenger, and EU citizens travelling to the UK need an ETA. If an operator cancels, we always try to find a replacement, but each case depends on the operator's contract.

Questions about the Citation Longitude

• • How much does a Citation Longitude flight cost?

  • The rate starts at EUR 6,300 per flight hour. In the table Geneva - Palma costs from EUR 15,500, Nice - Marrakesh from EUR 24,000 and Amsterdam - Dubai from EUR 47,000 for the whole aircraft one way. Airport fees and passenger taxes come on top.

• • What makes up the price?

  • Flight time at the hourly rate, positioning of the aircraft to your airport, and crew costs if you stay several days. Airport and handling fees, passenger taxes, catering and winter de-icing are added and listed in the quote.

• • How can the flight cost less?

  • Return the same day, keep the departure time flexible and ask about Empty Legs. For a short leg with few passengers, a Citation Latitude is usually cheaper.

• • Are there Empty Legs on the Citation Longitude?

  • Yes, but less often than on more common types, as fewer of these jets fly in Europe. When one appears, it can be 30-60% below the normal price, with a fixed date and route that the operator may cancel.

• • How many passengers can travel?

  • Eight in the club seats as standard. A sofa or an extra seat by the door adds places, and the type is certified for up to 12, but such dense layouts are rare in charter. On a night flight, four sleeping and two seated is the most comfortable.

• • Is there a toilet, and can we sleep on board?

  • Yes to both. The toilet is at the rear of the cabin, and the seats in both club groups fold fully flat, so four people can sleep at the same time.

• • How far does the Citation Longitude fly without a stop?

  • Textron quotes 6,482 km with four passengers. From central and western Europe that covers the whole continent, North Africa, the Canaries and the Gulf. To New York the jet refuels on the way, usually in Iceland or Ireland.

• • Can we reach the baggage during the flight?

  • Yes. The 3.17 m³ hold lies behind the cabin inside the pressurised fuselage and can be reached at any altitude. With four passengers there is room for skis or golf bags; give their number in the request.

• • Can it land at London City or Lugano?

  • As a rule, no. We found no steep-approach approval for the type, and the Lugano runway is shorter than the 1,466 m the jet needs at full weight. For London it lands at Farnborough, Luton or Biggin Hill, for Lugano in Milan.

• • Can the dog come along?

  • Usually yes, in the cabin with you once the operator has agreed; give breed, weight and carrier. The dog needs a microchip, a rabies vaccination at least 21 days before travel and an EU pet passport. For the UK, Ireland, Malta, Finland and Norway a tapeworm treatment 1-5 days before entry is also required, and the UK accepts animals only on approved routes and at airports that handle them.