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 Phenom 300E
A Cessna vs Embraer showdown in the light jet class. The Cessna Citation M2 Gen2 carries 6 passengers with 1,550 nm of range; the Embraer Phenom 300E carries 8 with 2,010 nm. Cabin dimensions land at 4'9" × 4'10" versus 4'11" × 5'2", and runway numbers read 3,250 ft against 3,209 ft. Indicative charter pricing on a representative sector: from £3,400 on the M2 Gen2, from £5,600 on the Phenom 300E.
EMBRAER
Embraer Phenom 300E
The Embraer Phenom 300E has been the world's most-delivered light jet for over a decade. Designed in collaboration with BMW Designworks, it offers the largest cabin, longest range and fastest cruise speed in its class — a genuine alternative to entry-level midsize aircraft at light-jet rates.
FULL EMBRAER PHENOM 300E PAGE →SPECIFICATIONS
Side-by-side specifications
| METRIC | Citation M2 Gen2 | Phenom 300E |
|---|---|---|
| Passengers | 6 | 8 |
| Range | 1,550 nm | 2,010 nm |
| Cruise speed | Mach 0.71 | Mach 0.80 |
| Cabin height | 4'9" | 4'11" |
| Cabin width | 4'10" | 5'2" |
| Baggage | 46 cu ft | 84 cu ft |
| Runway | 3,250 ft | 3,209 ft |
Cessna Citation M2 Gen2 — strengths
- —Lowest operating cost in the Citation line
- —Single-pilot certified
- —Modern Garmin G3000 flight deck
Embraer Phenom 300E — strengths
- —Fastest light jet in production — Mach 0.80
- —Most-delivered business jet of the past decade
- —Single-pilot certified for direct charter savings
CHARTER PRICING
Indicative pricing
CESSNA CITATION M2 GEN2
| London → Paris | from £3,400 |
| Dallas → Austin | from $4,200 |
EMBRAER PHENOM 300E
| London → Geneva | from £5,600 |
| Munich → Olbia | from €6,400 |
| Teterboro → Aspen | from $15,600 |
All-inclusive indicative one-way pricing. Confirmed quote in 10 minutes.
EXPERT VERDICT
The Phenom 300E is the stronger all-rounder, but the Citation M2 Gen2 still wins where it counts for the right mission.
the Phenom 300E answers with range / non-stop reach, cabin comfort, group capacity, airport access and speed & block time. 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
Phenom 300E
2,010 nm of range — the better choice for transcontinental and intercontinental missions.
Cabin comfort
Phenom 300E
Taller and/or wider cabin (4'11" × 5'2") — better for long flights and stand-up movement.
Group capacity
Phenom 300E
Seats up to 8 — the right pick when the manifest grows.
Airport access
Phenom 300E
Shorter 3,209 ft balanced-field requirement — opens up restricted alpine, island and city-adjacent airfields.
Speed & block time
Phenom 300E
Cruise of Mach 0.80 — shaves meaningful minutes off every long leg.
Verdict based on published manufacturer specifications, charter market data and Limitless Sky brokerage experience.
REQUEST A CHARTER QUOTE
Charter the Citation M2 Gen2 or the Phenom 300E.
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 Phenom 300E: the deciding reasons in this matchup, plus the buyer archetypes each aircraft serves best.
CESSNA
Top reasons to choose the Citation M2 Gen2
- ★Lowest operating cost in the Citation line
- ★Single-pilot certified
- ★Modern Garmin G3000 flight deck
BEST FOR
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.
Last-minute charter
Largest charter fleet of any jet class — strongest empty-leg availability.
EMBRAER
Top reasons to choose the Phenom 300E
- ★Reaches 2,010 nm non-stop — 30% more range than the Citation M2 Gen2, opening city pairs that would otherwise need a tech stop.
- ★Cruises at Mach 0.80, trimming block time on every leg vs the Citation M2 Gen2 (Mach 0.71).
- ★Bigger cabin envelope (4'11" tall × 5'2" wide) than the Citation M2 Gen2 — meaningful difference on flights over three hours.
- ★Seats up to 8 passengers vs 6 on the Citation M2 Gen2 — better for full-group charters and family travel.
- ★84 cu ft of baggage volume — fits ski, golf and extended-stay luggage that crowds the Citation M2 Gen2.
BEST FOR
Longer non-stop reach
When the mission is on the edge of the Citation M2 Gen2's envelope, the 2,010 nm legs of the Phenom 300E keep reserves intact.
Larger party charters
Up to 8 seats vs 6 on the Citation M2 Gen2 — 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.
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
CONS
- −Shorter range than the Phenom 300E (1,550 nm vs 2,010 nm) — may require a tech stop on long sectors.
- −Maximum 6-seat layout is tight if you regularly travel with more than 6 — the Phenom 300E adds 2 seats.
- −Slightly slower in cruise than the Phenom 300E (Mach 0.71 vs Mach 0.80).
- −Lower ceiling than the Phenom 300E (4'9" vs 4'11") — stand-up movement is restricted.
- −Tighter baggage capacity than the Phenom 300E (46 cu ft vs 84 cu ft).
EMBRAER
Embraer Phenom 300E
PROS
- +Fastest light jet in production — Mach 0.80
- +Most-delivered business jet of the past decade
- +Single-pilot certified for direct charter savings
- +Longer legs than the Citation M2 Gen2 (2,010 nm vs 1,550 nm) — fewer fuel stops on intercontinental missions.
- +Carries up to 8 passengers vs 6 on the Citation M2 Gen2 — better for larger groups.
- +Faster cruise (Mach 0.80) trims block time on every leg vs the Citation M2 Gen2.
CONS
- −Marginally more expensive per block hour than the Citation M2 Gen2 on typical charter quotes — confirm with a live quote for your route.
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 PICKPhenom 300E
Shorter runway requirement (3,209 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 PICKPhenom 300E
Larger cabin seats the full group (8).
SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →ROUTE RECOMMENDATIONS
Best pick per route
| ROUTE | DISTANCE | RECOMMENDED | WHY |
|---|---|---|---|
| London → Paris | 190 nm | Phenom 300E | Both reach it, but the longer-legged option keeps more fuel reserves for weather and routing changes. |
| Geneva → Ibiza | 560 nm | Phenom 300E | Both reach it, but the longer-legged option keeps more fuel reserves for weather and routing changes. |
| Teterboro → Miami | 950 nm | Phenom 300E | Both reach it, but the longer-legged option keeps more fuel reserves for weather and routing changes. |
| London → Athens | 1,500 nm | Phenom 300E | Only one reaches non-stop — the other would need a fuel stop (1500 nm > 1,550 nm). |
Distances are great-circle approximations; actual fuel planning accounts for winds, weather and reserves.
FAQ
Citation M2 Gen2 vs Phenom 300E — frequently asked
Citation M2 Gen2 vs Phenom 300E: which has the longer range?OPEN
The Cessna Citation M2 Gen2 has a published range of 1,550 nm; the Embraer Phenom 300E is rated at 2,010 nm. The longer-range aircraft opens up more non-stop city pairs without a tech stop.
Which is faster — Citation M2 Gen2 or Phenom 300E?OPEN
Cruise speeds are Mach 0.71 for the Cessna Citation M2 Gen2 and Mach 0.80 for the Embraer Phenom 300E. 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 Embraer Phenom 300E seats 8. 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 Embraer Phenom 300E?OPEN
Indicative one-way pricing on a benchmark mission: Cessna Citation M2 Gen2 from from £3,400, Embraer Phenom 300E from from £5,600. 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.
How much cabin space does the Citation M2 Gen2 have vs the Phenom 300E?OPEN
Cabin comfort is the everyday difference passengers feel most. Both the Cessna Citation M2 Gen2 and Embraer Phenom 300E sit in the Light Jet class, so cabin height, width and layout differ subtly — on flights over 3 hours those details matter more than raw range. Ask us for a side-by-side floorplan.
Which aircraft is safer — Citation M2 Gen2 or Phenom 300E?OPEN
Both aircraft in this comparison are operated under ARG/US, Wyvern or IS-BAO safety programmes when chartered through Limitless Sky. Safety is driven by operator, crew currency and maintenance regime — not the airframe. We only book operators meeting our verified due-diligence checklist.
What's the total mission cost — not just the hourly rate?OPEN
Hourly pricing (from £3,400 for the Citation M2 Gen2, from £5,600 for the Phenom 300E) is only one input. Total mission cost includes positioning legs, overnight fees, landing/handling, catering, de-icing and FET where applicable. Our confirmed quote itemises every line so there are no surprises.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Side-by-side, inside and out
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CITATION M2 GEN2 × PHENOM 300E CLUSTER
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