Cessna CitationJet / CJ1

The Cessna CitationJet is the first model of the CJ family. It has two Williams FJ44 engines, certification for a single pilot and a 3.35 m cabin with four club seats and a toilet at the rear. Operators list three versions: the original CitationJet, the CJ1 and the CJ1+.

For two to four people the Citation CJ1 is an inexpensive way to fly a jet on legs of one to two hours: London to Paris in 1:00 h, Paris to Geneva in 1:06 h, Munich to Nice in 1:25 h. The cabin is 1.45 m high, and with a full cabin and bags the jet cannot take full tanks, so longer legs need careful planning.

Four club seats and a small toilet

The usual layout has four club seats facing each other in pairs, with tables that fold out of the sidewalls. The seats slide towards the aisle for more shoulder room. Many aircraft have a fifth, side-facing seat by the door, and in many the toilet at the rear has a belt, so it can serve as a sixth seat for take-off and landing. With six on board the cabin is very tight and nobody can use the toilet in flight.

The three versions share the cabin and seats:

• CitationJet: the original, with older avionics
• CJ1: Collins Pro Line 21 flat-panel cockpit and a slightly higher take-off weight
• CJ1+: FJ44-1AP engines with digital FADEC control, a maximum take-off weight of 4,853 kg and a little more speed

How much baggage fits

The holds in the nose and the rear fuselage take about 1.27 m³, plus a small cabin locker for coats and a cabin bag. Four passengers should plan one medium suitcase and a soft bag each; two passengers can bring large suitcases or one pair of skis in a bag.

A dog or cat flies in the cabin next to its owner if the operator agrees in advance; give the breed, weight and carrier. In the EU the animal needs a microchip, a rabies vaccination (the first one at least 21 days before travel) and an EU pet passport; Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway and the UK also require tapeworm treatment for dogs 1-5 days before entry, and the UK accepts animals only via approved routes and airports.

Citation CJ1 speed, range and runways

Earlier versions cruise at about 705 km/h. Cessna gave the 2,408 km of the Citation CJ1+ with fuel reserves for an alternate 185 km away; with four people and bags, or with a westerly headwind, the real figure is clearly shorter. We plan the Citation CJ1 on legs up to about 1,400 km, such as London - Palma, and quote a larger type beyond that.

At maximum weight the Citation CJ1 needs about 1,220 m of runway, a little more than newer very light jets:

• Cannes-Mandelieu (1,539 m) and Sion (2,000 m) are within reach
• Samedan only with a crew trained for the airport, and its 1,700 m elevation and summer heat cut the take-off weight sharply
• Courchevel's 537 m sloped altiport is too short and needs a special qualification; Chambéry is the usual airport for the French ski resorts
• London City needs a separate steep-approach approval, so London flights usually use Luton, Farnborough or Biggin Hill

The Citation CJ1 is certified for a single pilot; in charter the operator decides whether one or two fly.

Rules worth knowing in Europe

• With a maximum take-off weight of 4,853 kg the Citation CJ1+ stays under 5.7 t, so it pays neither UK Air Passenger Duty nor the Dutch passenger tax, as both start at 5.7 t
• Domestic legs such as Milan - Rome need an EU operator, and London - Edinburgh a UK one; we match the operator to the route

Citation CJ1 routes and prices

Thirty one-way routes start from all thirteen hubs, from Nice - Calvi (0:46 h) to London - Palma (2:26 h), all non-stop. Most are one-hour business and holiday hops, where the Citation CJ1 is at its most economical. Prices are for the whole aircraft with crew, before airport fees and passenger taxes.

Within two hours: Corsica, the Alps and capital cities

Two hours and a little more: the Balearics and Morocco

Paris - Ibiza and London - Palma work with two or three passengers and light bags; with four and full suitcases the operator may plan a fuel stop. Barcelona from Hamburg is beyond what we plan for this jet, and a Cessna Citation CJ2 or Citation M2 covers it; Athens from Western Europe needs a jet with more range, such as the Citation CJ3.

The calculator gives an indicative price for this or another very light jet on any route; the final figure depends on which aircraft is free nearest to you.

Citation CJ1 charter price

The rate starts at EUR 2,500 per flight hour for the whole aircraft, with crew and fuel. On the short legs a Citation CJ1 usually flies, fixed costs weigh more than the hours: London - Paris takes 1:00 h and starts at EUR 8,000, Munich - Nice (1:25 h) at EUR 9,000, London - Palma (2:26 h) at EUR 11,500. The version, CJ1 or CJ1+, hardly changes the price.

London Farnborough - Geneva, whole aircraft one way and split per person, before taxes and fees:

Flying it for less

• A same-day return, for example London - Paris and back, without a crew hotel
• An aircraft based near your departure airport, which saves positioning
• A flexible departure time, so the operator can combine your flight with another trip
• An Empty Leg on a one-way trip, as the aircraft often flies back to base anyway

Empty Legs on the CJ1

Empty Legs on the Citation CJ1 appear mostly on short European legs, less often than on the CJ3 or Phenom 300, so it pays to search them together with the Citation M2 and Mustang. They can be 30-60% below a standard charter, but the date and route are fixed and the leg can be withdrawn. Send your route and dates to empty-legs@jets.flights or use the Empty Legs page; we always try to find a match, and each case depends on the operator.

Similar jets to compare

Clients choosing the Citation CJ1 usually compare it with its successor, the Citation M2, the smaller Mustang and the longer Citation CJ2.

Booking a flight

Send the route, date and time, the number of passengers and the baggage, including skis, golf bags and pets. We check free aircraft with operators holding an AOC and send a quote with the operator, version, year and taxes. EU citizens flying to the UK need an ETA.

Cessna CitationJet / CJ1: questions and answers

• • How much does a Citation CJ1 cost?

  • From EUR 2,500 per flight hour for the whole aircraft. London - Paris starts at EUR 8,000, London - Geneva at EUR 9,500 and Paris - Ibiza at EUR 10,500 one way; airport fees and passenger taxes are extra.

• • Why is a one-hour flight not just the hourly rate?

  • Positioning, the operator's minimum charge and airport fees are added to every flight. On a one-hour hop they are a large part of the total.

• • How can I pay less?

  • Return the same day, choose an aircraft based nearby and ask for Empty Legs. UK departures carry no Air Passenger Duty on a Citation CJ1, as it weighs under 5.7 t.

• • Are there Empty Legs on the CJ1?

  • Sometimes, mostly on short European legs, at 30-60% below a normal charter, with a fixed date and route.

• • How many passengers fit in a Citation CJ1?

  • Four in the club seats travel comfortably. An aircraft with a side seat takes five, and with a belted toilet six. For five or six people on legs over an hour the Citation CJ2 or CJ3 is the better choice.

• • Is there a toilet?

  • Yes, at the rear behind the seats, separated by a door or a curtain depending on the interior, usually without a washbasin.

• • How far can the Citation CJ1 fly without a stop?

  • Cessna gave 2,408 km for the CJ1+. We plan legs up to about 1,400 km, such as London - Palma; with four people and full suitcases the operator may still add a fuel stop on the longest of them.

• • What is the difference between the CitationJet, CJ1 and CJ1+?

  • Cabin and seats are the same; the CJ1 adds a Pro Line 21 cockpit and the CJ1+ digitally controlled engines and slightly more speed. The price is similar.

• • Can I bring my dog, skis or golf bags?

  • A small dog usually flies in the cabin with the operator's consent, a microchip and an EU pet passport with a valid rabies vaccination. Skis and golf bags fit with two or three passengers; give their number and length.