Cessna Citation M2

The Cessna Citation M2 is the smallest jet in the Citation family that Textron Aviation builds. It uses the fuselage of the CitationJet CJ1, with more powerful Williams FJ44 engines and a Garmin G3000 touchscreen flight deck. The cabin is 3.35 m long and 1.45 m high, and the usual layout has four seats facing each other in pairs. The type is certified for one pilot, but the operator decides whether one or two fly.

From European hubs the Citation M2 makes sense for two to four people on legs of one to two and a half hours:

• a meeting with a return the same evening, such as London - Paris (1:02 h) or Paris - Geneva (1:08 h)
• ski weekends to Sion, Chambéry or Innsbruck
• Mediterranean trips such as Nice - Palma (1:24 h) or Geneva - Barcelona (1:29 h)

Cabin, seats and toilet

The four seats in the middle of the Citation M2 cabin slide forwards, backwards and towards the aisle, and the backrests recline. A table folds out between them. Some aircraft have a fifth seat on the side by the door, and at the rear there is a toilet whose seat on many aircraft has a belt and counts as a sixth place. With six on board the cabin is full; two or three people get the most room.

Two versions fly in charter, with the same engines, range and cabin dimensions:

• The original Citation M2
• The M2 Gen2 with a new interior, wireless charging, USB-C sockets and new lighting; its fifth seat folds down into a shelf for about 23 kg of bags

Baggage: soft bags pack best

Baggage in the Citation M2 goes into a compartment in the nose and one in the tail, which cannot be reached in flight. There is room for about four medium suitcases, so soft bags are easier to load than hard cases.

• Two or three people: large suitcases as well
• Four people: one medium suitcase each
• Skis and golf bags: give the number and length, because the length of the holds, not their volume, decides what fits

With full tanks less than the weight of three adults is left for people and baggage. On short legs this does not matter, but from about 1,500 km the operator asks for the baggage weight.

Citation M2 speed, range and airports

Textron quotes 2,871 km for a ferry flight without passengers, at long-range cruise and with NBAA IFR reserves, including a diversion to an alternate airport 185 km away. With four passengers and baggage the real range is clearly shorter, and the westerly wind over Europe takes more off on westbound legs.

European details for a jet under 5.7 t

Citation M2 routes from European hubs

The table shows thirty one-way flights from all thirteen hubs, from Nice - Ajaccio (0:51 h) to Hamburg - Palma (3:03 h), all non-stop. Most take one to two and a half hours, the range where this class of jet gives the most for the money.

Prices are for the whole aircraft one way with crew, without airport fees and passenger taxes. Flight time is the great-circle distance plus taxi, climb and approach.

Up to two hours: meetings, ski airports and islands

Two hours and more: Spain, the Balearics and Greece

Up to Zurich - Corfu (2:27 h) the Citation M2 flies the table routes non-stop with four passengers. Paris - Seville (2:44 h) and Hamburg - Palma (3:03 h) are close to the limit: with four people, baggage and a headwind the operator may plan a fuel stop.

The calculator shows an indicative price for the Citation M2 or another jet of the same class on the route you choose.

Citation M2 charter price

The rate starts at EUR 2,600 per flight hour for the whole aircraft with crew and fuel. On short legs the hour costs more: London - Paris takes 1:02 h and costs from EUR 8,500, because positioning, the operator's minimum charge and taxi, climb and approach weigh the same on a one-hour trip. London - Nice (2:06 h) is from EUR 11,000 and Hamburg - Palma (3:03 h) from EUR 13,500.

The price is for the aircraft, so three people pay the same as four.

Geneva - Barcelona for the whole aircraft, split between the passengers, before taxes and airport fees:

Ways to pay less

• A same-day return, such as London - Paris and back, avoids the crew hotel
• An aircraft based near the departure airport cuts positioning, so a flexible time helps
• An earlier M2 instead of a Gen2, where the operator offers one
• For four people on short hops, the Phenom 100 and HondaJet have similar rates and widen the choice

Splitting a flight with other passengers is rare in this class and hard to plan; an Empty Leg is the realistic saving.

Empty Legs on this type

The Citation M2 is one of the more common very light jets with European operators, so Empty Legs appear fairly often, mostly in summer between northern Italy, Switzerland, the Riviera, Sardinia and the Balearics. They can be 30-60% below a normal charter.

Similar jets to compare

Clients choosing the Citation M2 usually compare it with the larger Citation CJ3, the Phenom 100 and HondaJet of the same class and the older Citation Mustang.

Booking a flight

For a quote we need:

• route, date and preferred departure time, and if you return the same day
• number of passengers and approximate baggage weight on legs of 1,500 km or more
• skis, golf bags or a dog, with size and weight
• airports with special rules such as Samedan or Lugano

We check free Citation M2 aircraft with operators holding an AOC and send a quote with the version, number of pilots and positioning. Within Schengen there is no passport control, but the operator still needs passport or ID details for every passenger; EU citizens flying to the UK need an ETA.

Cessna Citation M2: questions and answers

• • How much does a Citation M2 cost per flight?

  • The rate starts at EUR 2,600 per flight hour, whatever the number of passengers. In the table Amsterdam - London costs from EUR 8,500, Geneva - Barcelona from EUR 9,500 and Munich - Palma from EUR 12,000 one way for the whole aircraft. Airport fees and passenger taxes are added.

• • What is added to the table price?

  • Airport and handling fees, passenger taxes of the departure country (about EUR 420 per passenger from France within Europe, rising to about EUR 1,015 on longer routes and EUR 2,100 beyond 5,500 km, and EUR 100 from Italy on legs up to 1,500 km), catering, winter de-icing and, for a return days later, crew hotel or empty positioning legs.

• • How can I fly the Citation M2 for less?

  • Return the same day, keep the departure time flexible so a nearby aircraft can fly, and ask for an earlier M2 instead of a Gen2. With flexible dates, an Empty Leg gives the largest saving.

• • Are there Empty Legs on the Citation M2?

  • Fairly often, because many European operators fly it, mostly on short legs around the Alps, the Riviera and the islands. They can be 30-60% cheaper, with a fixed date and route. Send your route and dates to empty-legs@jets.flights.

• • How many people really fit?

  • Four sit comfortably in the club seats. The fifth place is the side seat by the door if the aircraft has one, the sixth is the belted toilet. For five or six people on a leg of more than an hour, the Citation CJ3 is better.

• • Is there a toilet on board?

  • Yes, at the rear behind the seats, with a flush but no washbasin. With six on board one person sits on it for take-off and landing, so on longer legs fewer passengers is better.

• • How far does the Citation M2 fly without a stop?

  • Textron quotes up to 2,871 km, but without passengers. With four people the table routes up to Zurich - Corfu are flown non-stop; Paris - Seville and Hamburg - Palma depend on wind and baggage weight.

• • Will skis or golf bags fit?

  • Yes, in limited numbers. The holds total 1.29 m³ and their length decides what fits. Give the number and length of the bags, and the operator confirms it together with the suitcases.

• • Can the M2 land at Samedan, Sion or Courchevel?

  • Sion (2,000 m runway) yes, and Samedan too if the crew has the mandatory training. Courchevel has a 537 m runway, which is too short; for the French ski resorts you land at Chambéry or Geneva.

• • Can my dog come along?

  • Usually yes, a small dog in the cabin, but the operator of the specific aircraft must approve it. Within the EU it needs a microchip, a pet passport and a valid rabies vaccination; Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway and the UK also require tapeworm treatment before entry.