Cessna Citation 501

The Cessna Citation 501, also called the Citation I/SP, is the Citation I certified to fly with a single pilot; SP stands for single pilot. Fuselage, straight wing, the two Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D-1A engines and the cabin are the same as on the two-pilot version. Cessna built 296 of them, and the family was later developed into the larger Citation II.

Citation 501 cabin: five seats and a small toilet

The cabin is 1.32 m high, 1.50 m wide and 3.86 m long. Seated, adults have enough room, but you stoop to walk. Most aircraft have five seats, a few have six, and at the rear there is a small toilet whose fittings depend on the aircraft. There is no galley and no place for a cabin attendant: drinks and cold snacks are loaded before departure.

On a jet of this age, upkeep matters more than the type itself:

Baggage: two compartments

Together the Citation 501 offers about 1.6 m³, which for four people means one medium suitcase and one hand bag each. On the longest legs with a full cabin the operator may ask you to pack lighter, since people and baggage share about 372 kg with full tanks.

Speed, range and airports

The 2,459 km range applies to a flight at high altitude with 45 minutes of reserve and a part load. With NBAA IFR reserves and a full cabin the real figure is clearly lower, so we keep table routes within about 1,500 km. With four on board the Citation 501 reaches Nice from London or Paris non-stop.

One pilot or two, and European rules

• The certificate allows one pilot, but in commercial charter the operator sets the crew according to its own procedures. If you want two pilots, say so in the request and we confirm it before booking.
• At 5,375 kg the Citation 501 is under 5.7 t, so it pays neither UK Air Passenger Duty nor the Dutch passenger tax, as both start at that weight.
• An operator from outside the EU, including the UK, cannot normally fly a passenger leg inside one EU country, such as Paris - Nice.

Citation 501 flights from European hubs

The table lists 29 one-way flights from all 13 hubs, from Nice - Figari (0:58 h) to Frankfurt - Palma (2:31 h). Prices are for the whole aircraft with crew, without airport fees and passenger taxes. Flight time is the great-circle distance plus taxi, climb and approach.

Up to two hours: the Riviera, Corsica and the Alps

Two hours and more: the longest legs for a five-seat jet

The Citation 501 flies every table route non-stop with four passengers. Frankfurt - Palma (1,251 km) is the longest: with five on board, full bags and a headwind the operator may plan a fuel stop. For Lisbon, the Canary Islands or six people, a Citation CJ3 or a Phenom 300 is the better choice.

The calculator shows an indicative price for this type or a very light jet of the same size on your route.

What a Citation 501 flight costs

The rate starts at EUR 2,500 per flight hour for the whole aircraft, with crew and fuel. London Farnborough - Paris Le Bourget takes 1:03 h and starts at EUR 7,500, far more than one hour at the rate, because the price also includes the operator's minimum charge and the aircraft's flights to and from its base. On Paris - Nice (1:37 h) the price starts at EUR 8,500, on London - Nice (2:10 h) at EUR 10,000.

With a rare type, positioning can be a large part of the bill: if the nearest free Citation 501 is two hours away, a newer jet based at your departure airport may cost less in total.

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

How to fly cheaper

• Take a Citation 501 only if one is based near your departure airport; otherwise positioning eats the lower rate.
• Return the same day where the crew's duty time allows, to avoid a hotel and a second positioning.
• Give a time window, so the operator can link your flight with another trip.
• Let us quote a Citation CJ1, Citation M2 or Mustang alongside: one of them is often closer.

Empty Legs on this type

Empty Legs on the Citation 501 are rare, because only a handful of aircraft fly charter in Europe. When one appears, it can cost 30-60% less than a regular flight, but the date and route are fixed and the operator may cancel it if the aircraft gets a full charter. Send your route and dates to empty-legs@jets.flights or use the Empty Legs page, and we include other small jets in the search.

Alternatives to the Citation 501

Instead of a Citation 501 we usually offer newer Cessna jets certified for one pilot and, when it is free, the Citation I with the same cabin.

How to request a quote

Send the route, date and departure time, the number of passengers and their baggage, and mention skis, golf bags or a pet. We look for a free Citation 501 with operators holding an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) and add the nearest jets of the same size. We always try to offer both options, but each case depends on the operator's schedule and contract. Within Schengen there is no passport control, yet the operator needs passport or ID details for every passenger; EU citizens flying to the UK need an ETA.

Questions about the Citation 501

• • How much does a Citation 501 flight cost?

  • From EUR 2,500 per flight hour for the whole aircraft. Geneva - Nice starts at EUR 7,000, London - Geneva at EUR 9,000 and Madrid - Nice at EUR 10,000 one way, before airport fees and passenger taxes.

• • What makes up the price?

  • Flight time, positioning from the aircraft's base, crew hotel on overnight trips, airport and handling fees, passenger taxes, catering and winter de-icing.

• • How can I pay less?

  • Book a Citation 501 only if it is based nearby and return the same day. Otherwise a closer CJ1 or M2 often costs less in total at a similar or slightly higher hourly rate.

• • Are there Empty Legs on the Citation 501?

  • Rarely, as few aircraft fly charter in Europe. If one matches your route, it can be 30-60% cheaper, with a fixed date and route.

• • How does the 501 differ from the Citation I?

  • Only in its certification and cockpit fit for a single pilot; cabin, performance and baggage are the same. The operator still decides whether one or two pilots fly, and we check it before booking if it matters to you.

• • How far can it fly without a stop?

  • We plan legs up to about 1,500 km. With four on board London - Nice is non-stop, and Frankfurt - Palma (2:31 h) is the longest table route.

• • How many passengers and how much baggage?

  • Usually five, six on some aircraft, with about 1.6 m³ for bags. On legs over two hours, three or four people travel more comfortably.

• • Is there a toilet?

  • A small one at the rear, with fittings that depend on the aircraft.

• • Can I bring my dog?

  • Yes, in the cabin next to you once the operator knows the breed, weight and carrier. It needs a microchip, a rabies vaccination (the first one at least 21 days before travel) and an EU pet passport, plus tapeworm treatment for the UK, Ireland, Malta, Finland and Norway.

• • Can it land at Sion or Courchevel?

  • Sion yes, after the operator checks weight and temperature. The Courchevel altiport is too short, so the jet lands at Chambéry or Geneva.