Hawker 800XP private jetCessna Citation Sovereign+ private jet

Hawker 800XP vs Citation Sovereign+

A head-to-head look at two of the most-chartered aircraft in the midsize jet class.

Hawker 800XP

HAWKER BEECHCRAFT

Hawker 800XP

The Hawker 800XP remains one of the most-chartered midsize jets in the world. Its eight-seat double-club cabin, robust airframe and proven Honeywell engines make it exceptional value for European business missions and transcontinental US travel.

FULL HAWKER 800XP PAGE →
Cessna Citation Sovereign+

CESSNA

Cessna Citation Sovereign+

The Citation Sovereign+ extends midsize-jet thinking with super-midsize range. Nine passengers cross the US coast-to-coast nonstop or fly London to Dubai with one fuel stop — all at midsize operating costs.

FULL CESSNA CITATION SOVEREIGN+ PAGE →

SPECIFICATIONS

Side-by-side specifications

METRICHawker 800XPCitation Sovereign+
Passengers89
Range2,540 nm3,200 nm
Cruise speedMach 0.80Mach 0.80
Cabin height5'9"5'7"
Cabin width6'0"5'6"
Baggage50 cu ft135 cu ft
Runway5,032 ft3,530 ft

Hawker 800XP — strengths

  • Exceptional charter value
  • Proven airframe — 1,800+ delivered
  • Comfortable stand-up cabin

Cessna Citation Sovereign+ — strengths

  • Coast-to-coast US nonstop
  • Largest baggage hold in segment
  • Outstanding short-runway performance

CHARTER PRICING

Indicative pricing

HAWKER 800XP
London → Marrakechfrom £21,000
Teterboro → Chicagofrom $14,500
CESSNA CITATION SOVEREIGN+
Los Angeles → New Yorkfrom $36,000
London → Madridfrom £12,000

All-inclusive indicative one-way pricing. Confirmed quote in 10 minutes.

EXPERT VERDICT

The Citation Sovereign+ is the stronger all-rounder, but the Hawker 800XP still wins where it counts for the right mission.

The Hawker 800XP pulls ahead on cabin comfort; the Citation Sovereign+ answers with range / non-stop reach, group capacity and airport access. Both sit in the midsize 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 Sovereign+

3,200 nm of range — the better choice for transcontinental and intercontinental missions.

Cabin comfort

Hawker 800XP

Taller and/or wider cabin (5'9" × 6'0") — better for long flights and stand-up movement.

Group capacity

Citation Sovereign+

Seats up to 9 — the right pick when the manifest grows.

Airport access

Citation Sovereign+

Shorter 3,530 ft balanced-field requirement — opens up restricted alpine, island and city-adjacent airfields.

Speed & block time

Even

Matched specifications.

Verdict based on published manufacturer specifications, charter market data and Limitless Sky brokerage experience.

PROS & CONS

Honest assessment

HAWKER BEECHCRAFT

Hawker 800XP

PROS

  • +Exceptional charter value
  • +Proven airframe — 1,800+ delivered
  • +Comfortable stand-up cabin
  • +Taller cabin (5'9") than the Citation Sovereign+ — easier to move around on long flights.
  • +Wider cabin (6'0") makes a meaningful difference at the shoulders vs the Citation Sovereign+.

CONS

  • Shorter range than the Citation Sovereign+ (2,540 nm vs 3,200 nm) — may require a tech stop on long sectors.
  • Maximum 8-seat layout is tight if you regularly travel with more than 8 — the Citation Sovereign+ adds 1 seat.
  • Needs more runway than the Citation Sovereign+ (5,032 ft vs 3,530 ft) — fewer short-field options.
  • Tighter baggage capacity than the Citation Sovereign+ (50 cu ft vs 135 cu ft).

CESSNA

Cessna Citation Sovereign+

PROS

  • +Coast-to-coast US nonstop
  • +Largest baggage hold in segment
  • +Outstanding short-runway performance
  • +Longer legs than the Hawker 800XP (3,200 nm vs 2,540 nm) — fewer fuel stops on intercontinental missions.
  • +Carries up to 9 passengers vs 8 on the Hawker 800XP — better for larger groups.
  • +Shorter runway requirement (3,530 ft) unlocks airfields the Hawker 800XP cannot use.

CONS

  • Lower ceiling than the Hawker 800XP (5'7" vs 5'9") — stand-up movement is restricted.

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

Eight-person sales roadshow across three European capitals in two days

OUR PICKCitation Sovereign+

Larger cabin seats the full group (9).

SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →

SCENARIO 02

Family of six on a 1,500 nm leisure trip with stand-up cabin needs

OUR PICKCitation Sovereign+

Larger cabin seats the full group (9).

SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →

SCENARIO 03

Coast-to-coast US transcon with full passenger load

OUR PICKHawker 800XP

Curated example: London → Athens sits in the Hawker 800XP's sweet spot.

SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →

SCENARIO 04

Long-weekend group charter to Marrakech with extra baggage

OUR PICKCitation Sovereign+

Larger cabin seats the full group (9).

SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →

ROUTE RECOMMENDATIONS

Best pick per route

ROUTEDISTANCERECOMMENDEDWHY
London → Moscow1,500 nmCitation Sovereign+Both reach it, but the longer-legged option keeps more fuel reserves for weather and routing changes.
Geneva → Marrakech1,250 nmCitation Sovereign+Both reach it, but the longer-legged option keeps more fuel reserves for weather and routing changes.
Teterboro → Aspen1,580 nmCitation Sovereign+Both reach it, but the longer-legged option keeps more fuel reserves for weather and routing changes.
Paris → Cairo1,800 nmCitation Sovereign+Both reach it, but the longer-legged option keeps more fuel reserves for weather and routing changes.

Distances are great-circle approximations; actual fuel planning accounts for winds, weather and reserves.

FAQ

Hawker 800XP vs Citation Sovereign+ — frequently asked

Hawker 800XP vs Citation Sovereign+: which has the longer range?OPEN

The Hawker 800XP has a published range of 2,540 nm; the Cessna Citation Sovereign+ is rated at 3,200 nm. The longer-range aircraft opens up more non-stop city pairs without a tech stop.

Which is faster — Hawker 800XP or Citation Sovereign+?OPEN

Cruise speeds are Mach 0.80 for the Hawker 800XP and Mach 0.80 for the Cessna Citation Sovereign+. On a London → Marrakech-style mission the faster aircraft typically saves 10–25 minutes block time.

How many passengers does each aircraft carry?OPEN

The Hawker 800XP seats 8; the Cessna Citation Sovereign+ seats 9. Charter prices below assume a typical executive layout — high-density configurations are available on request.

What does it cost to charter the Hawker 800XP vs the Cessna Citation Sovereign+?OPEN

Indicative one-way pricing on a benchmark mission: Hawker 800XP from from £21,000, Cessna Citation Sovereign+ from from $36,000. 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 Midsize 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

Compare more midsize jets

HAWKER 800XP × CITATION SOVEREIGN+ CLUSTER

Continue researching Hawker 800XP or Citation Sovereign+

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