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. Both sit in the same pricing class: an estimated €2,000–€2,700 per flight hour.
Manufacturer hubs:Cessna charter →
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 | €2,800–€3,700 |
| Dallas → Austin | Estimate on request |
ECLIPSE 550
| Chicago → Detroit | Estimate on request |
| Dallas → Austin | Estimate on request |
One-way estimates from our pricing engine (standard season), estimated, confirmed quote within 1–2 hours.
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.
REQUEST A CHARTER QUOTE
Charter the Citation M2 Gen2 or the Eclipse 550.
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
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. The difference in block time grows with trip length; on a London → Brussels trip it is usually minutes rather than hours.
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 the Citation M2 Gen2 vs the Eclipse 550 cost per hour to charter?OPEN
From our pricing engine's class rates: the Cessna Citation M2 Gen2 at an estimated €2,000–€2,700 per flight hour, and the Eclipse 550 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.
What are the Cessna Citation M2 Gen2 and Eclipse 550 cabin dimensions?OPEN
The Cessna Citation M2 Gen2 cabin is 4'9" high and 4'10" wide; the Eclipse 550 is 4'2" high and 4'8" wide. Baggage: 46 cu ft vs 16 cu ft.
Citation M2 Gen2 or Eclipse 550: which should I choose for my trip?OPEN
For trips within the Eclipse 550's published 1,125 nm, either aircraft can fly non-stop and the choice comes down to cabin (4'9" vs 4'2" cabin height), seats (6 vs 4) and price. Beyond that, the Cessna Citation M2 Gen2 (1,550 nm) flies non-stop where the Eclipse 550 may need a fuel stop. Real-world range drops with passengers, bags, winds and winter reserves, so we confirm it per trip.
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 Eclipse 550?OPEN
Cabin comfort is the everyday difference passengers feel most. Both the Cessna Citation M2 Gen2 and Eclipse 550 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 Eclipse 550?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
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.
MORE COMPARISONS
Compare more light jets
Eclipse 550 vs Citation M2 Gen2Reverse view →Citation M2 Gen2 vs Citation CJ3+Compare →Citation M2 Gen2 vs Citation XLS+Compare →Citation M2 Gen2 vs Phenom 300ECompare →Citation M2 Gen2 vs Citation CJ4 Gen2Compare →Citation M2 Gen2 vs HondaJet Elite IICompare →Citation M2 Gen2 vs Learjet 75 LibertyCompare →
CITATION M2 GEN2 × ECLIPSE 550 CLUSTER
Continue researching Citation M2 Gen2 or Eclipse 550
CHARTER EITHER AIRCRAFT
WHERE THESE AIRCRAFT FLY
EDITORIAL GUIDES
CHARTER THESE AIRCRAFT FOR YOUR TRIP
POPULAR COMPARISONS
Not sure which to charter?
Tell us your route and party size — we'll recommend the right aircraft and send a confirmed options within 1–2 hours.
REQUEST A QUOTE