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 Hawker / Beechcraft Premier IA
A head-to-head look at two of the most-chartered aircraft in the light jet class.
HAWKER BEECHCRAFT
Hawker / Beechcraft Premier IA
The Beechcraft Premier IA is a single-pilot light jet with a composite fuselage that yields the widest cabin in the entry-level segment. Six seats and a cruise speed comparable to larger light jets.
FULL HAWKER / BEECHCRAFT PREMIER IA PAGE →SPECIFICATIONS
Side-by-side specifications
| METRIC | Citation M2 Gen2 | Hawker / Beechcraft Premier IA |
|---|---|---|
| Passengers | 6 | 6 |
| Range | 1,550 nm | 1,500 nm |
| Cruise speed | Mach 0.71 | Mach 0.80 |
| Cabin height | 4'9" | 5'5" |
| Cabin width | 4'10" | 5'5" |
| Baggage | 46 cu ft | 77 cu ft |
| Runway | 3,250 ft | 3,792 ft |
Cessna Citation M2 Gen2 — strengths
- —Lowest operating cost in the Citation line
- —Single-pilot certified
- —Modern Garmin G3000 flight deck
Hawker / Beechcraft Premier IA — strengths
- —Widest cabin in entry-level segment
- —Single-pilot certified — lower cost
- —Composite airframe — light and quiet
CHARTER PRICING
Indicative pricing
CESSNA CITATION M2 GEN2
| London → Paris | from £3,400 |
| Dallas → Austin | from $4,200 |
HAWKER / BEECHCRAFT PREMIER IA
| Miami → Nassau | from $6,900 |
| Zurich → Munich | from CHF 6,400 |
All-inclusive indicative one-way pricing. Confirmed quote in 10 minutes.
EXPERT VERDICT
Two closely-matched light jets — the right pick depends entirely on the mission, not the spec sheet.
The Citation M2 Gen2 pulls ahead on range / non-stop reach and airport access; the Hawker / Beechcraft Premier IA answers with cabin comfort 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 M2 Gen2
1,550 nm of range — the better choice for transcontinental and intercontinental missions.
Cabin comfort
Hawker / Beechcraft Premier IA
Taller and/or wider cabin (5'5" × 5'5") — better for long flights and stand-up movement.
Group capacity
Even
Matched specifications.
Airport access
Citation M2 Gen2
Shorter 3,250 ft balanced-field requirement — opens up restricted alpine, island and city-adjacent airfields.
Speed & block time
Hawker / Beechcraft Premier IA
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 Hawker / Beechcraft Premier IA.
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 Hawker / Beechcraft Premier IA: the deciding reasons in this matchup, plus the buyer archetypes each aircraft serves best.
CESSNA
Top reasons to choose the Citation M2 Gen2
- ★Lands in 3,250 ft balanced field — accesses short, restricted and city-adjacent airports the Hawker / Beechcraft Premier IA cannot.
- ★Lowest operating cost in the Citation line
- ★Single-pilot certified
- ★Modern Garmin G3000 flight deck
BEST FOR
Short-field departures
3,250 ft balanced field unlocks airports the Hawker / Beechcraft Premier IA 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.
HAWKER BEECHCRAFT
Top reasons to choose the Hawker / Beechcraft Premier IA
- ★Cruises at Mach 0.80, trimming block time on every leg vs the Citation M2 Gen2 (Mach 0.71).
- ★Bigger cabin envelope (5'5" tall × 5'5" wide) than the Citation M2 Gen2 — meaningful difference on flights over three hours.
- ★77 cu ft of baggage volume — fits ski, golf and extended-stay luggage that crowds the Citation M2 Gen2.
- ★Widest cabin in entry-level segment
- ★Single-pilot certified — lower cost
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.
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
- +Shorter runway requirement (3,250 ft) unlocks airfields the Hawker / Beechcraft Premier IA cannot use.
CONS
- −Slightly slower in cruise than the Hawker / Beechcraft Premier IA (Mach 0.71 vs Mach 0.80).
- −Lower ceiling than the Hawker / Beechcraft Premier IA (4'9" vs 5'5") — stand-up movement is restricted.
- −Tighter baggage capacity than the Hawker / Beechcraft Premier IA (46 cu ft vs 77 cu ft).
HAWKER BEECHCRAFT
Hawker / Beechcraft Premier IA
PROS
- +Widest cabin in entry-level segment
- +Single-pilot certified — lower cost
- +Composite airframe — light and quiet
- +Faster cruise (Mach 0.80) trims block time on every leg vs the Citation M2 Gen2.
- +Taller cabin (5'5") than the Citation M2 Gen2 — easier to move around on long flights.
- +Wider cabin (5'5") makes a meaningful difference at the shoulders vs the Citation M2 Gen2.
CONS
- −Needs more runway than the Citation M2 Gen2 (3,792 ft vs 3,250 ft) — fewer short-field options.
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 PICKCitation M2 Gen2
Shorter runway requirement (3,250 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 | 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 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 Hawker / Beechcraft Premier IA — frequently asked
Citation M2 Gen2 vs Hawker / Beechcraft Premier IA: which has the longer range?OPEN
The Cessna Citation M2 Gen2 has a published range of 1,550 nm; the Hawker / Beechcraft Premier IA is rated at 1,500 nm. The longer-range aircraft opens up more non-stop city pairs without a tech stop.
Which is faster — Citation M2 Gen2 or Hawker / Beechcraft Premier IA?OPEN
Cruise speeds are Mach 0.71 for the Cessna Citation M2 Gen2 and Mach 0.80 for the Hawker / Beechcraft Premier IA. 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 Hawker / Beechcraft Premier IA seats 6. 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 Hawker / Beechcraft Premier IA?OPEN
Indicative one-way pricing on a benchmark mission: Cessna Citation M2 Gen2 from from £3,400, Hawker / Beechcraft Premier IA from from $6,900. 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.
MORE COMPARISONS
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CITATION M2 GEN2 × HAWKER / BEECHCRAFT PREMIER IA CLUSTER
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