A Cessna vs Embraer showdown in the light jet class. The Cessna Citation XLS+ carries 8 passengers with 1,858 nm of range; the Embraer Phenom 300E carries 8 with 2,010 nm. Cabin dimensions land at 5'8" × 5'6" versus 4'11" × 5'2", and runway numbers read 3,560 ft against 3,209 ft. Both sit in the same pricing class: an estimated €2,000–€2,700 per flight hour.
CESSNA
The Citation XLS+ is the world's best-selling midsize private jet — and for good reason. It blends a true stand-up cabin and external baggage hold with light-jet operating economics and short-runway capability. Eight passengers fly in genuine comfort across Europe or coast-to-coast in the US.
FULL CESSNA CITATION XLS+ PAGE →EMBRAER
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
| METRIC | Citation XLS+ | Phenom 300E |
|---|---|---|
| Passengers | 8 | 8 |
| Range | 1,858 nm | 2,010 nm |
| Cruise speed | Mach 0.75 | Mach 0.80 |
| Cabin height | 5'8" | 4'11" |
| Cabin width | 5'6" | 5'2" |
| Baggage | 90 cu ft | 84 cu ft |
| Runway | 3,560 ft | 3,209 ft |
CHARTER PRICING
| London → Nice | €4,400–€6,000 |
| Frankfurt → Mykonos | Estimate on request |
| New York → Miami | €6,400–€8,600 |
| London → Geneva | €3,600–€4,900 |
| Munich → Olbia | €3,900–€5,300 |
| Teterboro → Aspen | €9,200–€12,400 |
One-way estimates from our pricing engine (standard season), estimated, confirmed quote within 1–2 hours.
EXPERT VERDICT
The Citation XLS+ pulls ahead on cabin comfort; the Phenom 300E answers with range / non-stop reach, 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
Citation XLS+
Taller and/or wider cabin (5'8" × 5'6") — better for long flights and stand-up movement.
Group capacity
Even
Matched specifications.
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.
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Tell us your route — our desk returns estimated prices on both aircraft straight away and confirmed options within 1–2 hours, so you can compare like-for-like on your exact mission.
CHOOSE WITH CONFIDENCE
A tailored summary for the Citation XLS+ and Phenom 300E: the deciding reasons in this matchup, plus the buyer archetypes each aircraft serves best.
CESSNA
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
BEST FOR
Longer non-stop reach
When the mission is on the edge of the Citation XLS+'s envelope, the 2,010 nm legs of the Phenom 300E keep reserves intact.
Short-field departures
3,209 ft balanced field unlocks airports the Citation XLS+ 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.
PROS & CONS
CESSNA
PROS
CONS
EMBRAER
PROS
CONS
REAL-WORLD MISSIONS
Four scenarios our charter desk sees regularly — and which of these two we would actually quote.
SCENARIO 01
Curated example: London → Ibiza sits in the Citation XLS+'s sweet spot.
SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →SCENARIO 02
Shorter runway requirement (3,209 ft) opens up the airfield.
SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →SCENARIO 03
Curated example: London → Ibiza sits in the Citation XLS+'s sweet spot.
SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →SCENARIO 04
Larger cabin seats the full group (8).
SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →ROUTE RECOMMENDATIONS
| ROUTE | DISTANCE | RECOMMENDED | WHY |
|---|---|---|---|
| London → Paris | 190 nm | Either | Both aircraft fly this comfortably non-stop — choose on cabin and price. |
| Geneva → Ibiza | 560 nm | Either | Both aircraft fly this comfortably non-stop — choose on cabin and price. |
| Teterboro → Miami | 950 nm | Either | Both aircraft fly this comfortably non-stop — choose on cabin and price. |
| London → Athens | 1,500 nm | Either | Both aircraft fly this comfortably non-stop — choose on cabin and price. |
Distances are great-circle approximations; actual fuel planning accounts for winds, weather and reserves.
FAQ
The Cessna Citation XLS+ has a published range of 1,858 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.
Cruise speeds are Mach 0.75 for the Cessna Citation XLS+ and Mach 0.80 for the Embraer Phenom 300E. The difference in block time grows with trip length; on a London → Ibiza trip it is usually minutes rather than hours.
The Cessna Citation XLS+ seats 8; the Embraer Phenom 300E seats 8. Charter prices below assume a typical executive layout — high-density configurations are available on request.
From our pricing engine's class rates: the Cessna Citation XLS+ at an estimated €2,000–€2,700 per flight hour, and the Embraer Phenom 300E at an estimated €2,000–€2,700 per flight hour. These are estimates; the confirmed quote within 1–2 hours depends on positioning, season and airport fees.
The Cessna Citation XLS+ cabin is 5'8" high and 5'6" wide; the Embraer Phenom 300E is 4'11" high and 5'2" wide. Baggage: 90 cu ft vs 84 cu ft.
For trips within the Cessna Citation XLS+'s published 1,858 nm, either aircraft can fly non-stop and the choice comes down to cabin (5'8" vs 4'11" cabin height), seats (8 vs 8) and price. Beyond that, the Embraer Phenom 300E (2,010 nm) flies non-stop where the Cessna Citation XLS+ may need a fuel stop. Real-world range drops with passengers, bags, winds and winter reserves, so we confirm it per trip.
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.
Cabin comfort is the everyday difference passengers feel most. Both the Cessna Citation XLS+ 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.
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.
The hourly class rate 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
MORE COMPARISONS
CITATION XLS+ × PHENOM 300E CLUSTER
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