Citation Excel
The Cessna Citation Excel is a midsize jet seating eight passengers in an 18.5-foot flat-floor cabin, 5.5 feet wide and 5.7 feet tall, with Wi-Fi, a full galley, and an enclosed lavatory. Range is 1,858 nautical miles at 430 knots with a 45,000-foot service ceiling. Against midsize category averages, the Excel is slower (430 vs 454 ktas avg) and shorter-ranged (1,858 vs 2,336nm avg), but the flat floor and stand-up cabin put it in territory usually reserved for larger jets.
With 92 aircraft on US Part 135 certificates across 48 operators, the type produces consistent charter availability. Jet Select LLC operates 10 aircraft, Wheels Up Private Jets 7, Ventura Air Services 6, and Silverhawk Aviation 5. Those four operators hold 31% of the active fleet. The spread across 48 operators produces 18 active empty legs at any given time, with prices ranging from $2,500 to $24,000 depending on routing.
Charter rates run approximately $3,500 to $4,300 per hour. Used Citation Excel models trade from $2 million to $3 million; used XLS examples run $4.5 million to $6.45 million. New XLS Gen2 aircraft list around $15.5 million.
Specs at a glance
Interior & cabin
| Passengers | 8 |
| Cabin length | 18.5 ft |
| Cabin width | 5.5 ft |
| Cabin height | 5.7 ft |
| Baggage volume | 78 cu ft |
| Lavatory | Fully enclosed |
| Galley | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Available on most aircraft |
| Cabin floor | Flat, walk-around |
The cabin runs 5.7 ft tall — most passengers will crouch slightly when walking the aisle. A fully enclosed lavatory makes it workable for longer legs. Connectivity varies by tail — most operators in this fleet have at least one Wi-Fi-equipped aircraft, but confirm before booking if you need to work in the air.
Operator floor plans vary. Some Citation Excel cabins are configured with a divan that drops the headcount by one or two seats; confirm the layout with the operator before booking.
Range & performance
| Range | 1,858 nm |
| Max cruise | 430 ktas |
| Typical cruise | ~366 ktas |
| Service ceiling | 45,000 ft |
1,858 nm covers most US domestic missions. Coast-to-coast with one stop, transcontinental city pairs east of the Rockies non-stop.
Distances are real great-circle nautical miles from the selected hub. Angular positions are spaced for readability, not actual bearings. Range envelope assumes no wind and a full passenger load.
Charter cost per hour
Charter the Citation Excel at roughly $4,500–$7,500 per flight hour, depending on how far ahead you book. Midsize jets like this carry 7–9 passengers; the per-seat math improves sharply as you fill the cabin.
Rates are flight-hour pricing. Total cost depends on round-trip vs. one-way, positioning, fuel surcharges, and taxes (~15% on top of base). Run the math on your trip →
Safety Record
History
Cessna announced the Citation Excel in October 1994. The Model 560XL prototype flew on February 29, 1996, and the FAA issued type certification in April 1998. The design used a modified version of the Citation V fuselage, widened to produce a flat-floor, stand-up cabin within a midsize airframe.
Cessna delivered 308 Citation Excels between 1998 and 2004. The Citation XLS followed in 2004 with engine and interior upgrades on the same 560XL type certificate, and delivered 330 aircraft before the XLS+ updated the cabin further. The 1,000th aircraft across the 560XL series was delivered on March 31, 2021. Production continues under Textron Aviation as the Citation XLS Gen2.
Ideal For
- Six to eight passengers on routes up to 1,600nm: New York to Miami (1,090nm), Dallas to Chicago (800nm), Los Angeles to Dallas (1,230nm)
- Groups needing a flat-floor stand-up cabin without super-midsize pricing; the 5.5-foot-wide, 5.7-foot-tall flat-floor cabin offers stand-up headroom unavailable in most light jets and many older midsize designs
- Charter customers who cross-shop the Citation XLS or XLS+ variants on the same type certificate with different interior generations
- South Florida operations, where Jet Select, Ventura Air Services, and Solutions Air Charter maintain the largest Excel/XLS fleets in the US
- Owner-operators who want enclosed lavatory, galley, and Wi-Fi at midsize acquisition prices starting around $2 million for older Excel models
- Business travel on corridors where 45,000-foot cruise altitude and 430-knot speed provide reliable scheduling without airline connections
Citation Excel vs Midsize Average
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to charter a Citation Excel?
Charter rates run approximately $3,500 to $4,300 per hour. A two-hour New York to Miami flight typically totals $8,000 to $11,000 before taxes and positioning fees. The XLS and XLS+ variants on the same type certificate may run higher depending on interior age and avionics configuration.
What is the difference between the Citation Excel and Citation XLS?
Both share the same FAA type certificate (Model 560XL). The original Excel was produced 1998 to 2004 with 308 aircraft. The XLS followed with deliveries from 2004, adding engine and interior upgrades. The XLS+ continued the line with further cabin refinements. For charter customers, the performance is essentially identical across all three; the XLS and XLS+ tend to offer more current interiors.
Can the Citation Excel fly coast-to-coast nonstop?
New York to Los Angeles is approximately 2,450nm, beyond the Excel's 1,858nm range with a full passenger load. A fuel stop is typical on that corridor. New York to Miami (1,090nm), Dallas to Los Angeles (1,230nm), and Chicago to Denver (900nm) all fall within range nonstop.
How does the Citation Excel compare to the Hawker 800XP?
Both are midsize jets seating eight passengers, but they differ in cabin shape. The Hawker 800XP has a wider oval cross-section (6.0ft) versus the Excel's flat-floor design (5.5ft wide, 5.7ft tall). The Excel's flat floor is easier for moving through the cabin; the Hawker's profile feels wider at shoulder level. Charter rates are comparable. The Excel has 92 active Part 135 aircraft; the Hawker 800XP has 99.
How does the Citation Excel compare to the Citation XLS in the charter market?
The XLS and Excel are the same aircraft type with different interior generations. A charter broker may offer either depending on availability. Older Excel models (pre-2004) carry lower hourly rates; XLS and XLS+ models command higher rates for their updated cabins. The 1,000th 560XL-series aircraft was delivered in 2021, confirming continued operator investment in the type.
Available Empty Legs on Citation Excels
Citation Excels for Charter (93) Page 1 of 2
Where Citation Excels actually fly
ADS-B-tracked flights from the trailing 90 days. Numbers cover aircraft on our charter database; private corporate fleets and operators using PIA registration are not in this count. Methodology →
Top routes
Busiest origins
| Teterboro (KTEB) | 223 |
| Naples (KAPF) | 199 |
| Santa Ana (KSNA) | 178 |
| Bedford (KBED) | 131 |
| White Plains (KHPN) | 130 |
| Pontiac (KPTK) | 127 |
| Omaha (KOMA) | 113 |
| West Palm Beach (KPBI) | 108 |
| Boca Raton (KBCT) | 103 |
| Lincoln (KLNK) | 97 |
Most active operators
| Operator | Aircraft | Flights |
|---|---|---|
| Jet Select, LLC | 10 | 1,116 |
| Ventura Air Services, Inc. | 5 | 795 |
| C.C. Calzone, LLC | 4 | 522 |
| DCT AIR LLC | 3 | 480 |
| Silverhawk Aviation, Inc. | 5 | 465 |
| Fly Alliance, Inc. | 2 | 306 |
| BIMINI BAY AIR LEASING LLC | 3 | 271 |
| Solutions Air Charter, LLC | 3 | 239 |
| Mach One Air Charters, Inc. | 2 | 228 |
| Jet 1 Charter, Inc. | 2 | 214 |
Comparable aircraft
Same category, similar mission profile. The framing below summarizes how each one differs from the Citation Excel on the dimensions that matter most.