CESSNA
Cessna Citation M2 Gen2
The Cessna Citation M2 Gen2 is the entry point to the Citation family — a six-seat single-pilot light jet with Garmin G3000 avionics and class-leading economics on one-hour hops.
FULL CESSNA CITATION M2 GEN2 PAGE →
Citation M2 Gen2 vs Eclipse 550
A Cessna vs Eclipse Aerospace showdown in the light jet class. The Cessna Citation M2 Gen2 carries 6 passengers with 1,550 nm of range; the Eclipse 550 carries 4 with 1,125 nm. Cabin dimensions land at 4'9" × 4'10" versus 4'2" × 4'8", and runway numbers read 3,250 ft against 2,342 ft. Indicative charter pricing on a representative sector: from £3,400 on the M2 Gen2, from $4,400 on the Eclipse 550.
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ECLIPSE AEROSPACE
Eclipse 550
The Eclipse 550 is the definitive very light jet — a four-seat, twin-Pratt & Whitney PW610F powered aircraft with autothrottles, Avio IFMS avionics and by far the lowest fuel burn of any jet in charter service (roughly 59 US gal/hr). A niche but genuinely useful tool for short regional missions on tight budgets.
FULL ECLIPSE 550 PAGE →SPECIFICATIONS
Side-by-side specifications
| METRIC | Citation M2 Gen2 | Eclipse 550 |
|---|---|---|
| Passengers | 6 | 4 |
| Range | 1,550 nm | 1,125 nm |
| Cruise speed | Mach 0.71 | Mach 0.64 |
| Cabin height | 4'9" | 4'2" |
| Cabin width | 4'10" | 4'8" |
| Baggage | 46 cu ft | 16 cu ft |
| Runway | 3,250 ft | 2,342 ft |
Cessna Citation M2 Gen2 — strengths
- —Lowest operating cost in the Citation line
- —Single-pilot certified
- —Modern Garmin G3000 flight deck
Eclipse 550 — strengths
- —Lowest fuel burn of any charter jet
- —Sub-2,400 ft take-off distance
- —Autothrottles standard
CHARTER PRICING
Indicative pricing
CESSNA CITATION M2 GEN2
| London → Paris | from £3,400 |
| Dallas → Austin | from $4,200 |
ECLIPSE 550
| Chicago → Detroit | from $4,400 |
| Dallas → Austin | from $3,900 |
All-inclusive indicative one-way pricing. Confirmed quote in 10 minutes.
EXPERT VERDICT
The Citation M2 Gen2 is the stronger all-rounder, but the Eclipse 550 still wins on the metrics that matter to specific buyers.
The Citation M2 Gen2 pulls ahead on range / non-stop reach, cabin comfort, group capacity and speed & block time; the Eclipse 550 answers with airport access. Both sit in the light jet class, so charter pricing is broadly aligned — let the use case (range, group size, airport pair) drive the final call.
Range / non-stop reach
Citation M2 Gen2
1,550 nm of range — the better choice for transcontinental and intercontinental missions.
Cabin comfort
Citation M2 Gen2
Taller and/or wider cabin (4'9" × 4'10") — better for long flights and stand-up movement.
Group capacity
Citation M2 Gen2
Seats up to 6 — the right pick when the manifest grows.
Airport access
Eclipse 550
Shorter 2,342 ft balanced-field requirement — opens up restricted alpine, island and city-adjacent airfields.
Speed & block time
Citation M2 Gen2
Cruise of Mach 0.71 — shaves meaningful minutes off every long leg.
Verdict based on published manufacturer specifications, charter market data and Limitless Sky brokerage experience.
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Charter the Citation M2 Gen2 or the Eclipse 550.
Tell us your route — our desk returns a confirmed quote on both aircraft within 10 minutes, so you can compare like-for-like on your exact mission.
CHOOSE WITH CONFIDENCE
Top reasons to choose — and who each aircraft is best for
A tailored summary for the Citation M2 Gen2 and Eclipse 550: the deciding reasons in this matchup, plus the buyer archetypes each aircraft serves best.
CESSNA
Top reasons to choose the Citation M2 Gen2
- ★Reaches 1,550 nm non-stop — 38% more range than the Eclipse 550, opening city pairs that would otherwise need a tech stop.
- ★Cruises at Mach 0.71, trimming block time on every leg vs the Eclipse 550 (Mach 0.64).
- ★Bigger cabin envelope (4'9" tall × 4'10" wide) than the Eclipse 550 — meaningful difference on flights over three hours.
- ★Seats up to 6 passengers vs 4 on the Eclipse 550 — better for full-group charters and family travel.
- ★46 cu ft of baggage volume — fits ski, golf and extended-stay luggage that crowds the Eclipse 550.
BEST FOR
Longer non-stop reach
When the mission is on the edge of the Eclipse 550's envelope, the 1,550 nm legs of the Citation M2 Gen2 keep reserves intact.
Larger party charters
Up to 6 seats vs 4 on the Eclipse 550 — the natural pick when the manifest grows last-minute.
Two-hour business hops
Lowest jet-class operating cost for 1–2 hour European or US regional legs.
Short-runway escapes
Unlocks airfields like London City alternatives, Lugano and Aspen.
ECLIPSE AEROSPACE
Top reasons to choose the Eclipse 550
- ★Lands in 2,342 ft balanced field — accesses short, restricted and city-adjacent airports the Citation M2 Gen2 cannot.
- ★Lowest fuel burn of any charter jet
- ★Sub-2,400 ft take-off distance
- ★Autothrottles standard
BEST FOR
Short-field departures
2,342 ft balanced field unlocks airports the Citation M2 Gen2 cannot use, putting passengers closer to the door.
Two-hour business hops
Lowest jet-class operating cost for 1–2 hour European or US regional legs.
Short-runway escapes
Unlocks airfields like London City alternatives, Lugano and Aspen.
4–6 passenger weekends
Right-sized for a couple plus friends or a small family weekend break.
PROS & CONS
Honest assessment
CESSNA
Cessna Citation M2 Gen2
PROS
- +Lowest operating cost in the Citation line
- +Single-pilot certified
- +Modern Garmin G3000 flight deck
- +Longer legs than the Eclipse 550 (1,550 nm vs 1,125 nm) — fewer fuel stops on intercontinental missions.
- +Carries up to 6 passengers vs 4 on the Eclipse 550 — better for larger groups.
- +Faster cruise (Mach 0.71) trims block time on every leg vs the Eclipse 550.
CONS
- −Needs more runway than the Eclipse 550 (3,250 ft vs 2,342 ft) — fewer short-field options.
ECLIPSE AEROSPACE
Eclipse 550
PROS
- +Lowest fuel burn of any charter jet
- +Sub-2,400 ft take-off distance
- +Autothrottles standard
- +Shorter runway requirement (2,342 ft) unlocks airfields the Citation M2 Gen2 cannot use.
CONS
- −Shorter range than the Citation M2 Gen2 (1,125 nm vs 1,550 nm) — may require a tech stop on long sectors.
- −Maximum 4-seat layout is tight if you regularly travel with more than 4 — the Citation M2 Gen2 adds 2 seats.
- −Slightly slower in cruise than the Citation M2 Gen2 (Mach 0.64 vs Mach 0.71).
- −Lower ceiling than the Citation M2 Gen2 (4'2" vs 4'9") — stand-up movement is restricted.
- −Tighter baggage capacity than the Citation M2 Gen2 (16 cu ft vs 46 cu ft).
REAL-WORLD MISSIONS
Which aircraft for which mission
Four scenarios our charter desk sees regularly — and which of these two we would actually quote.
SCENARIO 01
Two-hour business hop with four executives and overnight bags
OUR PICKCitation M2 Gen2
Curated example: London → Brussels sits in the Citation M2 Gen2's sweet spot.
SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →SCENARIO 02
Weekend ski trip — Geneva to Sion with full ski equipment
OUR PICKEclipse 550
Shorter runway requirement (2,342 ft) opens up the airfield.
SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →SCENARIO 03
Day-return board meeting between secondary cities
OUR PICKCitation M2 Gen2
Curated example: London → Brussels sits in the Citation M2 Gen2's sweet spot.
SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →SCENARIO 04
Family of five to a Mediterranean island for a long weekend
OUR PICKCitation M2 Gen2
Larger cabin seats the full group (6).
SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →ROUTE RECOMMENDATIONS
Best pick per route
| ROUTE | DISTANCE | RECOMMENDED | WHY |
|---|---|---|---|
| London → Paris | 190 nm | Citation M2 Gen2 | Both reach it, but the longer-legged option keeps more fuel reserves for weather and routing changes. |
| Geneva → Ibiza | 560 nm | Citation M2 Gen2 | Both reach it, but the longer-legged option keeps more fuel reserves for weather and routing changes. |
| Teterboro → Miami | 950 nm | Citation M2 Gen2 | Both reach it, but the longer-legged option keeps more fuel reserves for weather and routing changes. |
| London → Athens | 1,500 nm | Either | Both would require a tech stop on this routing — talk to us about positioning. |
Distances are great-circle approximations; actual fuel planning accounts for winds, weather and reserves.
FAQ
Citation M2 Gen2 vs Eclipse 550 — frequently asked
Citation M2 Gen2 vs Eclipse 550: which has the longer range?OPEN
The Cessna Citation M2 Gen2 has a published range of 1,550 nm; the Eclipse 550 is rated at 1,125 nm. The longer-range aircraft opens up more non-stop city pairs without a tech stop.
Which is faster — Citation M2 Gen2 or Eclipse 550?OPEN
Cruise speeds are Mach 0.71 for the Cessna Citation M2 Gen2 and Mach 0.64 for the Eclipse 550. On a London → Paris-style mission the faster aircraft typically saves 10–25 minutes block time.
How many passengers does each aircraft carry?OPEN
The Cessna Citation M2 Gen2 seats 6; the Eclipse 550 seats 4. Charter prices below assume a typical executive layout — high-density configurations are available on request.
What does it cost to charter the Cessna Citation M2 Gen2 vs the Eclipse 550?OPEN
Indicative one-way pricing on a benchmark mission: Cessna Citation M2 Gen2 from from £3,400, Eclipse 550 from from $4,400. Confirmed quote in 10 minutes — pricing varies with empty-leg availability, season and routing.
Which aircraft is better for transatlantic or long-range missions?OPEN
Both belong to the Light Jet category, but range, payload and runway performance differ. See the route-recommendations table on this page for our specific pick per corridor.
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CITATION M2 GEN2 × ECLIPSE 550 CLUSTER
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