Cessna Citation X

The Cessna Citation X was built around one idea, speed. A sharply swept wing and two Rolls-Royce AE3007 engines let it cruise at up to Mach 0.92, and the later Citation X+ reaches Mach 0.935. In our table that means Frankfurt to Tenerife in 4:11 h and London to Larnaca in 4:14 h, about twenty minutes less than a Challenger 350 on the same legs.

Cabin layout, galley and toilet

The cabin of the Citation X is about 7.2 m long; the X+ adds 38 cm. The seats sit on raised ledges along both sides with a dropped aisle between them, so you stand only in the aisle and taller passengers keep the head slightly bowed. Seated, there is enough room for a four-hour flight.

Baggage and payload

Four people can bring large suitcases, golf bags or skis. With eight on board the realistic load is one medium suitcase and a cabin bag each, and soft bags pack better than hard cases.

On the longest legs weight matters more than volume. Business Jet Traveler puts the payload with full tanks at about 655 kg, so on Vienna - Dubai (5:19 h) with a full cabin the operator weighs bags against fuel. On legs to Spain, France or Italy this is no issue.

Speed, range and runways

The X+ received stronger AE3007C2 engines with FADEC control, winglets, Garmin G5000 avionics with autothrottle and the slightly longer cabin. Textron quotes up to 6,311 km for it without stating the load. The original version flies less far, and our table plans non-stop legs up to about 5,000 km, with reserves for wind and airspace detours.

Against a typical super midsize jet the gain is a few minutes on a one-hour hop and about twenty minutes on a four-hour leg. Speed pays off above three hours or when a meeting is timed to the minute; on Paris - Geneva (0:58 h) price and availability decide.

At full weight the Citation X needs about 1,600 m of runway. Nice, Geneva, Milan, Farnborough and the other hubs pose no problem; elsewhere:

• Cannes-Mandelieu (1,539 m) and Samedan (1,799 m at about 1,700 m elevation): only at reduced weight after an exact calculation, so we usually plan Nice or Zurich
• London City and Lugano: we have not found a steep approach approval for the type
• Courchevel: the 537 m sloped altiport is too short for this jet and needs a special qualification
• Two pilots always fly

Flying the type in Europe

Routes from European hubs

Thirty-one one-way routes from all thirteen hubs, from Paris - Geneva (0:58 h) to Vienna - Dubai (5:19 h), plus London - New York with one fuel stop. Prices cover the whole aircraft with crew, before airport fees and passenger taxes; flight times follow the great-circle distance plus taxi, climb and approach.

Up to two hours: where speed saves only minutes

Two to four hours: Iberia, Greece, Turkey and the Canaries

Over four hours: where speed pays off most

The calculator gives an indicative price for the Citation X or another super midsize jet on your route; the final figure depends on where the nearest free aircraft is based.

Citation X charter price

The rate starts at EUR 6,300 per flight hour for the whole aircraft with two pilots and fuel. Short legs cost more than the rate times the flight time, because positioning, the operator's minimum charge and handling weigh heavily: Paris - Geneva (0:58 h) starts at EUR 11,500 and Milan - Olbia (1:04 h) at EUR 12,500.

On longer legs speed works in your favour, as fewer hours are billed. London - Nice (1:41 h) is from EUR 16,000, Frankfurt - Tenerife (4:11 h) from EUR 32,000 and London - Larnaca (4:14 h) from EUR 32,000. Six or eight passengers pay the same total.

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

Ways to pay less

• Under two hours with up to six passengers, compare with a Citation XLS: the time gain is a few minutes, the hourly rate is lower
• Same-day return on short legs such as Paris - Geneva: no hotel and no second positioning
• A return after several days: ask for both the crew waiting and two separate one-way trips
• A flexible departure time lets an aircraft finishing a nearby trip fly you without long positioning
• An original Citation X instead of an X+, when both are on offer

Empty Legs

Citation X Empty Legs are less common than those of light jets or the Challenger 350, because fewer aircraft fly in Europe. They come up mostly on returns from the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands and the Gulf to bases in central Europe and the UK, at 30-60% below a standard charter.

Citation X or a wider cabin

This type is chosen for speed. Clients usually weigh it against the roomier Challenger 350, the newer Citation Longitude and Latitude, and the slower Citation Sovereign with the same cross-section.

Booking a flight

For a quote we need:

• route, date and departure time, and the time you must arrive if that matters
• number of passengers and bags, with skis, golf bags or a pet listed separately
• for long legs, whether a smaller group or lighter bags are possible to avoid a stop

We check free aircraft with operators holding an AOC and send a quote with the operator, the version and year of the aircraft, positioning and taxes. We always try to keep the times you give us; each case depends on the operator's contract and crew duty rules.

Cessna Citation X: questions and answers

• • How much does a Citation X flight cost?

  • The rate starts at EUR 6,300 per flight hour. London Farnborough - Nice costs from EUR 16,000, Munich - Lisbon from EUR 23,000 and London - Larnaca from EUR 32,000 for the whole aircraft one way. Airport fees and passenger taxes come on top.

• • Why does a one-hour flight cost so much?

  • Positioning, the minimum charge and handling are fixed costs per departure. On Paris - Geneva (0:58 h) they make up much of the EUR 11,500, and the speed of the Citation X saves only a few minutes there.

• • What is added to the table price?

  • Airport and handling fees, passenger taxes of the departure country, catering and de-icing in winter. A Paris departure adds about EUR 420 per passenger on a European route, more on longer ones (about EUR 1,015 to places such as Turkey or the Gulf and EUR 2,100 beyond 5,500 km); an Italian one EUR 100 or EUR 200. The quote lists every item.

• • How can I fly the Citation X for less?

  • On legs under two hours a Citation XLS usually costs less and arrives only minutes later. Keep the departure time flexible, return the same day on short legs and ask for Empty Legs.

• • Are there Empty Legs on the Citation X?

  • Sometimes, mostly on returns from the Mediterranean, the Canaries or the Gulf. They can be 30-60% below a normal charter, but the date and route are fixed. Write to empty-legs@jets.flights with your route and dates.

• • How many passengers fit?

  • Usually eight in two club groups. Six travel with room for bags in the cabin and easy access to the toilet at the rear. Taller passengers walk with the head slightly bowed.

• • Can the Citation X reach the Canary Islands or Dubai non-stop?

  • Yes. Frankfurt - Tenerife (4:11 h) and Geneva - Tenerife are non-stop with a full cabin; Vienna - Dubai (5:19 h) suits a smaller group with moderate bags.

• • Will skis and golf bags fit?

  • For four passengers usually yes. With eight on board the 2.32 m³ hold leaves little room for sports gear, so tell us the number of bags and the operator confirms for the specific aircraft.

• • Can our dog come along?

  • Usually yes, in the cabin next to you once the operator has agreed. It needs an EU pet passport with a valid rabies vaccination; the UK accepts animals only via approved routes and airports.

• • Which airports are out of reach?

  • Courchevel, London City and Lugano. Cannes-Mandelieu and Samedan work only at reduced weight, so we usually plan Nice or Zurich instead.