A head-to-head look at two of the most-chartered aircraft in the light jet class.
CESSNA
The Cessna Citation CJ3+ is the most-flown light jet in private aviation — a perfect short-range workhorse that combines exceptional fuel efficiency with a refined six-seat cabin. Ideal for one-to-two-hour European or US regional missions, the CJ3+ accesses smaller airfields that midsize jets cannot, putting clients closer to their final destination.
FULL CESSNA CITATION CJ3+ PAGE →PILATUS
The Pilatus PC-24 is the only business jet in the world certified for short, unimproved and gravel runways. With a flat cabin floor, large cargo door and class-leading flexibility, it accesses 21,000 airports — far more than any rival.
FULL PILATUS PC-24 PAGE →SPECIFICATIONS
| METRIC | Citation CJ3+ | PC-24 |
|---|---|---|
| Passengers | 6–7 | 8 |
| Range | 2,040 nm | 2,000 nm |
| Cruise speed | Mach 0.737 | Mach 0.74 |
| Cabin height | 4'9" | 5'1" |
| Cabin width | 4'10" | 5'6" |
| Baggage | 65 cu ft | 90 cu ft |
| Runway | 3,180 ft | 2,930 ft |
CHARTER PRICING
| London → Geneva | from £8,400 |
| Nice → Olbia | from €5,900 |
| Miami → Nassau | from $7,500 |
| Geneva → St Moritz | from CHF 8,200 |
| Denver → Telluride | from $14,500 |
All-inclusive indicative one-way pricing. Confirmed quote in 10 minutes.
EXPERT VERDICT
The Citation CJ3+ pulls ahead on range / non-stop reach; the PC-24 answers with 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
Citation CJ3+
2,040 nm of range — the better choice for transcontinental and intercontinental missions.
Cabin comfort
PC-24
Taller and/or wider cabin (5'1" × 5'6") — better for long flights and stand-up movement.
Group capacity
PC-24
Seats up to 8 — the right pick when the manifest grows.
Airport access
PC-24
Shorter 2,930 ft balanced-field requirement — opens up restricted alpine, island and city-adjacent airfields.
Speed & block time
PC-24
Cruise of Mach 0.74 — shaves meaningful minutes off every long leg.
Verdict based on published manufacturer specifications, charter market data and Limitless Sky brokerage experience.
PROS & CONS
CESSNA
PROS
CONS
PILATUS
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 → Paris sits in the Citation CJ3+'s sweet spot.
SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →SCENARIO 02
Shorter runway requirement (2,930 ft) opens up the airfield.
SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →SCENARIO 03
Curated example: London → Paris sits in the Citation CJ3+'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 CJ3+ has a published range of 2,040 nm; the Pilatus PC-24 is rated at 2,000 nm. The longer-range aircraft opens up more non-stop city pairs without a tech stop.
Cruise speeds are Mach 0.737 for the Cessna Citation CJ3+ and Mach 0.74 for the Pilatus PC-24. On a London → Geneva-style mission the faster aircraft typically saves 10–25 minutes block time.
The Cessna Citation CJ3+ seats 6–7; the Pilatus PC-24 seats 8. Charter prices below assume a typical executive layout — high-density configurations are available on request.
Indicative one-way pricing on a benchmark mission: Cessna Citation CJ3+ from from £8,400, Pilatus PC-24 from from CHF 8,200. Confirmed quote in 10 minutes — pricing varies with empty-leg availability, season and routing.
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.
MORE COMPARISONS
CITATION CJ3+ × PC-24 CLUSTER
CHARTER EITHER AIRCRAFT
WHERE THESE AIRCRAFT FLY
Tell us your route and party size — we'll recommend the right aircraft and send a confirmed quote in 10 minutes.
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