Citation II
The Cessna Citation II is a light jet seating seven passengers in a 15.7-foot cabin, 4.8 feet wide and 4.6 feet tall, with a belted lavatory. Range is 1,563 nautical miles at 403 knots. Against the light jet category average, the Citation II carries one more seat (7 vs 6 avg) but runs 30 knots below average speed (403 vs 433 ktas avg) and falls 194 nautical miles short on range (1,563 vs 1,757nm avg). Two Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D-4 turbofan engines power the aircraft.
The 37 US Part 135 aircraft spread across 25 operators, with the top four operators (Bohlke LLC of St. Croix USVI, Paragon Airways, Spring City Jet, and FliteAccess) each holding three aircraft. No operator holds more than three. Route patterns in the empty leg data show Caribbean and southeastern US corridors: Boca Raton to Arkansas, Nashville to Atlanta, Jacksonville to Louisville. Eight active empty legs reflect the older fleet's limited positioning activity.
Charter rates run approximately $2,500 to $3,200 per hour. Used Citation II aircraft trade from $400,000 to $1.2 million, with Citation S/II models from $600,000 to $1.5 million.
Specs at a glance
Interior & cabin
| Passengers | 7 |
| Cabin length | 15.7 ft |
| Cabin width | 4.8 ft |
| Cabin height | 4.6 ft |
| Baggage volume | 36 cu ft |
At 4.6 ft of cabin height, the Citation II is a sit-down jet. Expect to duck moving between seats.
Operator floor plans vary. Some Citation II 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 | 1,563 nm |
| Max cruise | 403 ktas |
| Typical cruise | ~343 ktas |
With 1,563 nm of range, the Citation II is built for short-to-mid US missions. Plan a fuel stop for anything past three hours of cruise.
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 II at roughly $3,000–$5,000 per flight hour, depending on how far ahead you book. Light jets like this carry 6–8 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 →
History
Cessna developed the Citation II (Model 550) as a faster successor to the original Citation I, addressing its main weakness: cruise speed of around 350 knots at altitude. The Citation II added a longer cabin, more powerful JT15D-4 engines, and a redesigned wing that lifted cruise speed to 403 knots while retaining the Citation I's single-pilot certification. The prototype flew January 31, 1977, and the FAA certified the aircraft in March 1978. Deliveries began the same year.
Cessna built 603 Model 550 Citation IIs before introducing the Citation S/II with upgraded JT15D-4B engines in 1984, adding improved hot-and-high performance. The Citation Bravo (1999–2006) followed as a further derivative with Pratt & Whitney Canada PW530A engines and updated avionics. Total production across the II, S/II, and Bravo reached 1,184 aircraft. With production ending in 2006, most Citation IIs currently active on Part 135 certificates are 25 to 45 years old.
Ideal For
- Two to five passengers on routes under 1,200nm where seat cost matters more than speed: Nashville to Louisville (150nm), Boca Raton to San Juan (1,050nm), Miami to New York (1,090nm)
- Caribbean island service where low acquisition cost and affordable direct operating expenses fit thin-margin island-hop routes; Bohlke LLC operates three Citation IIs from St. Croix, USVI
- Owner-operators seeking a single-pilot certified light jet at the lowest entry cost in the certified market, with predictable JT15D engine maintenance
- Charter companies serving price-sensitive customers who need seven seats but cannot justify midsize charter rates
Citation II vs Light Average
Frequently Asked Questions
How old are Citation II aircraft currently flying?
Production of the Citation II (Model 550) ran from 1978 to the mid-1990s, with the S/II continuing through approximately 1999. Aircraft currently on US Part 135 certificates are 25 to 45 years old. That means older avionics suites and potentially higher maintenance overhead than modern light jets, offset by low acquisition costs (often below $1 million). Ask the operator for recent inspection records and avionics currency before booking.
What is the Citation II's range?
Maximum range is 1,563 nautical miles. On typical loads of four to five passengers, practical range runs 1,200–1,400nm. That covers Miami to New York (1,090nm), Chicago to Dallas (790nm), and Boca Raton to San Juan (1,050nm) without a fuel stop. Cross-country US flights require two or more stops.
How does the Citation II compare to the Beechjet 400A?
The Beechjet 400A carries the same seven passengers but at 460 knots versus the Citation II's 403, a difference of about 50 minutes on a 1,000nm trip. The 400A uses more modern avionics and commands higher charter rates ($3,000–$3,800/hr vs $2,500–$3,200/hr for the Citation II). The Citation II's advantage is price per seat; the Beechjet's advantage is speed and cabin refinement.
Is the Citation II single-pilot certified?
Yes. The Model 550 Citation II is FAA-certified for single-pilot operation, following the Citation family's design philosophy. Part 135 charter operators typically use two pilots as company policy, but the type certificate permits single-pilot IFR flight.
Available Empty Legs on Citation IIs
Citation IIs for Charter (37)
Where Citation IIs 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
| Waukesha (KUES) | 61 |
| Cleveland (KBKL) | 55 |
| Zanesville (KZZV) | 37 |
| Miami (KOPF) | 36 |
| Iowa City (KIOW) | 27 |
| Culebra (TJCP) | 24 |
| Columbus (KCMH) | 24 |
| Teterboro (KTEB) | 24 |
| Port Clinton (KPCW) | 22 |
| Nashville (KBNA) | 22 |
Most active operators
| Operator | Aircraft | Flights |
|---|---|---|
| FliteAccess, LLC. | 3 | 280 |
| Spring City Jet, Inc | 3 | 249 |
| Southeastern Ohio Air Service, Inc. | 2 | 144 |
| Aitheras Aviation Group LLC | 1 | 100 |
| Jet Air Inc. | 2 | 84 |
| BOHLKE, LLC | 3 | 82 |
| Griffing Flying Service Inc | 2 | 71 |
| AirFlair, Inc | 1 | 67 |
| Monterey Pacific Executive Charter, LLC | 1 | 61 |
| Triton Air LLC | 2 | 56 |
Comparable aircraft
Same category, similar mission profile. The framing below summarizes how each one differs from the Citation II on the dimensions that matter most.