Cessna Citation II

The Cessna Citation II is a stretched development of the first Citation, with a longer cabin and two Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D-4 engines. The cabin is 4.95 m long and 1.42 m high, usually with six or seven seats and an enclosed toilet at the rear. The line continued with the Citation S/II and the Citation Bravo.

From European hubs the jet suits four to six people on legs of up to about three hours: Paris - Nice (1:33 h), London - Palma (2:31 h) or Paris - Lisbon (2:43 h). It cruises at about 657 km/h, slower than newer light jets, and few aircraft remain in charter, so the nearest free one may be some distance away.

Club seats and a toilet with a door

In the middle of the cabin four club seats face each other in pairs, with fold-out tables. Behind them two seats face forwards, and some aircraft have a side seat by the entrance. With 1.42 m to the ceiling you stoop in the aisle, but seated there is good headroom.

Three versions fly under the name, some of them re-engined, and the quote states which one you get:

• Model 550, which under its European type certificate needs two pilots;
• the lighter Citation II/SP, certified for a single pilot;
• the Citation S/II, with a new wing, larger tanks and more range;
• some aircraft have Williams FJ44 engines, which raise the cruise speed.

Baggage: holds outside, a cabinet inside

Of the 2.07 m³, most is in the nose and tail holds, loaded from the apron; the rest is a cabinet in the cabin that you can reach in flight. That takes about five suitcases.

• Six passengers: not a large suitcase each, so bring soft bags.
• Four passengers: room for weekend suitcases.
• Skis and golf bags: give the number and length, as the length of the hold decides what fits.

Range, speed and runways

The 2,222 km applies with NBAA IFR reserves, which include fuel for a diversion to an alternate airport. We plan non-stop legs up to about 1,900 km, leaving a margin for headwind and extra baggage. On the same route the Citation II takes a little longer than a Citation CJ3, some 15-20 minutes over 1,500 km.

The operator calculates the runway needed from the weight and temperature of the day:

Rules that affect a 6 t jet in Europe

Citation II flights from 13 European hubs

The table holds 29 one-way flights, from Madrid - Ibiza (1:12 h) to Nice - Athens (2:50 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 Alps, the Riviera and the near islands

Two to three hours: Spain, Portugal, Malta and Greece

Mykonos allows private aircraft only about 40 minutes on the ground in summer, so after a drop-off there the jet parks on another island or flies back empty.

The calculator shows an indicative price for the Citation II or a light jet of the same class on your route.

What a Citation II charter costs

The rate starts at EUR 2,500 per flight hour for the whole aircraft, with crew and fuel, lower than for light jets still in production such as the Citation CJ3. Short legs cost more than rate times flight time: Madrid - Ibiza (1:12 h) starts at EUR 8,000, because positioning, the operator's minimum charge and taxi and climb weigh the same on a one-hour trip.

Over longer distances the lower rate shows: London Farnborough - Nice (2:04 h) costs from EUR 10,500 and Paris Le Bourget - Lisbon (2:43 h) from EUR 12,000. If the nearest free aircraft is far away, a newer jet parked closer can still work out cheaper.

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

Ways to pay less

• Do not limit the request to one type: a Bravo or CJ3 parked closer often costs less than a distant Citation II.
• Return the same day where the crew's duty time allows, so no hotel and no second positioning are needed.
• Give a window of departure times, so the operator can link your trip with another one.

Empty Legs on this type

Few Citation II aircraft fly charter in Europe, so Empty Legs on the type are occasional, mostly between business cities and the Mediterranean in summer. One can be 30-60% cheaper than a regular charter, but date and route are fixed and the operator may withdraw it if the aircraft gets a full charter.

Send your route and a range of dates to empty-legs@jets.flights or check the Empty Legs page; we include other light jets in the search.

Citation II or a newer jet

Clients asking for the Citation II usually compare it with its successor, the longer Citation V and the modern Citation CJ3.

How to request a Citation II

For a quote we need:

• route, date and departure time;
• number of passengers and a description of the baggage;
• skis, golf bags or a pet;
• if another light jet of the same class is acceptable.

We look for a free Citation II with operators holding an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) and state its version, base and number of pilots in the offer. We always try to find the type you ask for, 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 II

• • How much does a Citation II flight cost?

  • From EUR 2,500 per flight hour for the whole aircraft. Paris - Nice costs from EUR 9,000, Zurich - Palma from EUR 10,000 and Amsterdam - Palma from EUR 12,000 one way, before airport fees and passenger taxes.

• • What is added to the table price?

  • Airport and handling fees, passenger taxes, catering, winter de-icing and, for a return days later, crew hotel or empty positioning legs.

• • How can I fly cheaper?

  • Accept a Bravo or CJ3 if one is closer, return the same day and give a time window. With flexible dates, an Empty Leg saves the most.

• • Are Empty Legs available on the Citation II?

  • Occasionally, as few aircraft fly charter. A matching one can be 30-60% cheaper, with a fixed date and route.

• • How many passengers fit?

  • Usually six or seven seats, eight on some aircraft counting the belted toilet seat. On legs over two hours four or five people travel best.

• • Is there a toilet on board?

  • Yes, in its own compartment with a door. Where its seat has a belt, a passenger may sit there for take-off and landing.

• • How far does it fly without a stop?

  • Up to 2,222 km with NBAA IFR reserves; we plan up to about 1,900 km. Paris - Lisbon and Nice - Athens are non-stop with a normal load, while the Canary Islands need a stop or a jet with more range.

• • How much baggage can I bring?

  • About five suitcases in 2.07 m³. With six passengers soft bags work better; give the length of skis or golf bags.

• • 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 at least 21 days before travel and an EU pet passport, plus tapeworm treatment for the UK, Ireland, Malta, Finland and Norway.

• • Can it fly to the Alps?

  • To Sion and Chambéry, and to Samedan with a trained crew. The Courchevel altiport is too short.