Cessna Citation I

The Cessna Citation I grew out of the Model 500, the first jet of the Citation line. Compared with the original it has a longer wing, more powerful Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D engines and a ceiling raised to 12,497 m. The cabin usually seats five passengers, and two pilots fly the aircraft; the single-pilot version is described separately as the Citation 501.

When a free Citation I is near your departure airport, it makes sense for:

• three or four people on legs of one to two and a half hours, such as Paris - Munich (1:34 h) or Geneva - Palma (1:43 h);
• short-notice day trips where a newer jet would have to fly in from far away;
• small airports such as Cannes-Mandelieu, as the jet needs roughly 900 m to take off.

A low cabin for five

At 1.50 m the cabin is as wide as in many newer very light jets, but at 1.32 m it is lower, so you move about stooping. It is 3.86 m long and usually has five passenger seats, on some aircraft six. Three or four people travel best, because a full cabin leaves little room for legs and bags.

• Toilet: small, at the rear. Its fittings and how it is screened from the cabin depend on the aircraft, as most have had several interior changes.
• Food: no galley, so catering means drinks and cold snacks; there is no seat for a cabin attendant.
• Wi-Fi: rare in these aircraft.
• Age: cabin look, sound insulation and avionics differ widely. Some aircraft have refurbished interiors and modern instruments, others keep the original fit, so we ask the operator for photos of the actual aircraft.

Baggage: nose hold and rear compartment

Bags go into an external hold in the nose of about 0.48 m³ and a compartment inside the fuselage behind the cabin of about 1.13 m³. The total of roughly 1.6 m³ matches many newer jets of this class: with four people, one medium suitcase and one bag each.

Citation I performance and airports

The 2,459 km figure applies to a high-altitude flight with 45 minutes of fuel reserve. With the NBAA IFR reserves used in business flight planning, it comes to about 1,890 km, and we keep table routes within 1,600 km. Paris - Ibiza (2:14 h) is flown non-stop with four on board.

Availability and rules in Europe

Citation I routes and prices

These 28 one-way flights start from all 13 hubs, from London Farnborough - Jersey (0:53 h) to Amsterdam - Barcelona (2:25 h). Prices cover 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: islands, Alps and capitals

Two to two and a half hours: Spain and the Riviera from the north

• Amsterdam - Barcelona (1,241 km) is the longest leg in the table; with five passengers, full bags and a headwind it may need a fuel stop.
• Mykonos gives private aircraft only about 40 minutes of parking in summer, so after Larnaca - Mykonos the jet waits elsewhere or flies back empty.
• Lisbon, the Canary Islands or six people with luggage call for a Citation II or a Citation CJ3.

The calculator shows an indicative price for the Citation I or a very light jet of the same size on the route you choose.

Citation I charter price

The rate starts at EUR 2,500 per flight hour for the whole aircraft, with two pilots and fuel. On short legs the hour costs much more: London Farnborough - Jersey (0:53 h) starts at EUR 7,000, as the operator's minimum charge, positioning and the aircraft's time on the ground weigh as much as on a longer trip.

On a rare type the trip of the aircraft from a distant base can be a large part of the bill, so the cheapest Citation I is the one already parked near your airport.

Paris - Munich for the whole aircraft, shared between the passengers, before taxes and airport fees:

Paying less on this type

• Choose an aircraft based close to your departure airport, even if another one has a lower hourly rate.
• Fly out and back in one day if the crew's duty time allows: no hotel and no second positioning.
• Keep your dates flexible; this matters more for a rare type than for a common one.
• Ask us to quote a Citation CJ1 or M2 alongside, as their rates are similar.

Empty Legs on the Citation I

Very few. With only a handful of aircraft in European charter, an Empty Leg on this type is a matter of luck; when one fits, it can be 30-60% cheaper than a regular flight, but date and route are fixed and the operator can cancel it if the aircraft is booked for 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.

Jets offered as alternatives

When no Citation I is free, clients usually get an offer for one of three Cessna jets.

How to book

Send us the route, date and time, the number of passengers and their baggage, and mention pets or sports equipment. We search for a free Citation I with operators holding an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) and add the nearest comparable jets in the same reply. We always try to find the requested type, but each case depends on the operator's schedule and contract. The operator needs passport or ID details even within Schengen, and EU citizens flying to the UK need an ETA.

Citation I: frequent questions

• • How much does a Citation I flight cost?

  • From EUR 2,500 per flight hour for the whole aircraft. Nice - Olbia costs from EUR 7,500, Geneva - Palma from EUR 9,000 and Paris - Ibiza from EUR 10,500 one way, before airport fees and passenger taxes.

• • What is not included in the table price?

  • Airport and handling fees, passenger taxes, catering, winter de-icing and, if you return on another day, crew hotel or extra positioning.

• • How can I fly cheaper?

  • Take the aircraft based nearest to you, return the same day and keep dates flexible. A Citation CJ1 or M2 at a similar rate is often closer.

• • Can I find an Empty Leg on this jet?

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

• • How many people does a Citation I take?

  • Usually five, six on some aircraft. With a full cabin space is tight, so three or four is better on longer legs.

• • What is the difference from the Citation 501?

  • Cabin and performance are practically the same. The 501, also called Citation I/SP, is certified for one pilot, while the Citation I needs two.

• • Is there a toilet?

  • Yes, a small one at the rear; its fittings depend on the aircraft, so ask for details before a longer flight.

• • How far can it fly non-stop?

  • About 1,890 km with NBAA IFR reserves. With four on board, Amsterdam - Barcelona (2:25 h) is fine, but Lisbon from northern Europe needs a stop or a larger jet.

• • Can my dog fly with me?

  • Yes, in the cabin if the operator agrees, with breed, weight and carrier given in advance. The EU requires a microchip, a rabies vaccination at least 21 days before travel and a pet passport; the UK, Ireland, Malta, Finland and Norway also require tapeworm treatment 1-5 days before entry.

• • Can it land in the Alps?

  • Sion yes, Samedan with a specially trained crew. The Courchevel altiport is too short, so for the French resorts the jet lands at Chambéry.