HAWKER BEECHCRAFT
Hawker 850XP
The Hawker 850XP added winglets to the proven Hawker 800XP airframe, improving climb performance and range. Stand-up cabin, eight seats and one of the most popular midsize jets in service.
FULL HAWKER 850XP PAGE →Hawker 850XP vs Citation Excel
A head-to-head look at two of the most-chartered aircraft in the midsize jet class.
CESSNA
Cessna Citation Excel
The Cessna Citation Excel was the original stand-up midsize Citation and remains one of the most-delivered business jets in history. Eight seats, 1,800 nm of range and access to airports the larger XLS+ cannot use.
FULL CESSNA CITATION EXCEL PAGE →SPECIFICATIONS
Side-by-side specifications
| METRIC | Hawker 850XP | Citation Excel |
|---|---|---|
| Passengers | 8 | 8 |
| Range | 2,642 nm | 1,858 nm |
| Cruise speed | Mach 0.80 | Mach 0.75 |
| Cabin height | 5'9" | 5'7" |
| Cabin width | 6'0" | 5'5" |
| Baggage | 50 cu ft | 80 cu ft |
| Runway | 5,032 ft | 3,560 ft |
Hawker 850XP — strengths
- —Winglet performance upgrade
- —Quiet cabin (Hawker airframe acoustics)
- —Strong US and European availability
Cessna Citation Excel — strengths
- —Short-runway capable midsize
- —Largest installed fleet in midsize class
- —Lower hourly cost than XLS+
CHARTER PRICING
Indicative pricing
HAWKER 850XP
| Miami → Cabo San Lucas | from $26,400 |
| Geneva → Athens | from CHF 21,600 |
CESSNA CITATION EXCEL
| Miami → Nassau | from $10,400 |
| Paris → Nice | from €11,800 |
All-inclusive indicative one-way pricing. Confirmed quote in 10 minutes.
EXPERT VERDICT
The Hawker 850XP is the stronger all-rounder, but the Citation Excel still wins on the metrics that matter to specific buyers.
The Hawker 850XP pulls ahead on range / non-stop reach, cabin comfort and speed & block time; the Citation Excel answers with 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
Hawker 850XP
2,642 nm of range — the better choice for transcontinental and intercontinental missions.
Cabin comfort
Hawker 850XP
Taller and/or wider cabin (5'9" × 6'0") — better for long flights and stand-up movement.
Group capacity
Even
Matched specifications.
Airport access
Citation Excel
Shorter 3,560 ft balanced-field requirement — opens up restricted alpine, island and city-adjacent airfields.
Speed & block time
Hawker 850XP
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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Charter the Hawker 850XP or the Citation Excel.
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 Hawker 850XP and Citation Excel: the deciding reasons in this matchup, plus the buyer archetypes each aircraft serves best.
HAWKER BEECHCRAFT
Top reasons to choose the Hawker 850XP
- ★Reaches 2,642 nm non-stop — 42% more range than the Citation Excel, opening city pairs that would otherwise need a tech stop.
- ★Cruises at Mach 0.80, trimming block time on every leg vs the Citation Excel (Mach 0.75).
- ★Bigger cabin envelope (5'9" tall × 6'0" wide) than the Citation Excel — meaningful difference on flights over three hours.
- ★Winglet performance upgrade
- ★Quiet cabin (Hawker airframe acoustics)
BEST FOR
Longer non-stop reach
When the mission is on the edge of the Citation Excel's envelope, the 2,642 nm legs of the Hawker 850XP keep reserves intact.
Stand-up cross-Europe travel
Flat-floor cabin for 3–4 hour legs with full bar and lavatory.
8-seat board offsites
Comfortable double-club layout for executive teams.
US transcontinental
Non-stop east-coast to west-coast missions with full payload.
CESSNA
Top reasons to choose the Citation Excel
- ★Lands in 3,560 ft balanced field — accesses short, restricted and city-adjacent airports the Hawker 850XP cannot.
- ★80 cu ft of baggage volume — fits ski, golf and extended-stay luggage that crowds the Hawker 850XP.
- ★Short-runway capable midsize
- ★Largest installed fleet in midsize class
- ★Lower hourly cost than XLS+
BEST FOR
Short-field departures
3,560 ft balanced field unlocks airports the Hawker 850XP cannot use, putting passengers closer to the door.
Stand-up cross-Europe travel
Flat-floor cabin for 3–4 hour legs with full bar and lavatory.
8-seat board offsites
Comfortable double-club layout for executive teams.
US transcontinental
Non-stop east-coast to west-coast missions with full payload.
PROS & CONS
Honest assessment
HAWKER BEECHCRAFT
Hawker 850XP
PROS
- +Winglet performance upgrade
- +Quiet cabin (Hawker airframe acoustics)
- +Strong US and European availability
- +Longer legs than the Citation Excel (2,642 nm vs 1,858 nm) — fewer fuel stops on intercontinental missions.
- +Faster cruise (Mach 0.80) trims block time on every leg vs the Citation Excel.
- +Taller cabin (5'9") than the Citation Excel — easier to move around on long flights.
CONS
- −Needs more runway than the Citation Excel (5,032 ft vs 3,560 ft) — fewer short-field options.
- −Tighter baggage capacity than the Citation Excel (50 cu ft vs 80 cu ft).
CESSNA
Cessna Citation Excel
PROS
- +Short-runway capable midsize
- +Largest installed fleet in midsize class
- +Lower hourly cost than XLS+
- +Shorter runway requirement (3,560 ft) unlocks airfields the Hawker 850XP cannot use.
- +Larger baggage hold (80 cu ft) — useful for ski, golf or extended luggage vs the Hawker 850XP.
CONS
- −Shorter range than the Hawker 850XP (1,858 nm vs 2,642 nm) — may require a tech stop on long sectors.
- −Slightly slower in cruise than the Hawker 850XP (Mach 0.75 vs Mach 0.80).
- −Lower ceiling than the Hawker 850XP (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 PICKHawker 850XP
Larger cabin seats the full group (8).
SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →SCENARIO 02
Family of six on a 1,500 nm leisure trip with stand-up cabin needs
OUR PICKHawker 850XP
Larger cabin seats the full group (8).
SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →SCENARIO 03
Coast-to-coast US transcon with full passenger load
OUR PICKHawker 850XP
Curated example: New York → Aspen sits in the Hawker 850XP's sweet spot.
SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →SCENARIO 04
Long-weekend group charter to Marrakech with extra baggage
OUR PICKHawker 850XP
Larger cabin seats the full group (8).
SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →ROUTE RECOMMENDATIONS
Best pick per route
| ROUTE | DISTANCE | RECOMMENDED | WHY |
|---|---|---|---|
| London → Moscow | 1,500 nm | Hawker 850XP | Both reach it, but the longer-legged option keeps more fuel reserves for weather and routing changes. |
| Geneva → Marrakech | 1,250 nm | Hawker 850XP | Both reach it, but the longer-legged option keeps more fuel reserves for weather and routing changes. |
| Teterboro → Aspen | 1,580 nm | Hawker 850XP | Both reach it, but the longer-legged option keeps more fuel reserves for weather and routing changes. |
| Paris → Cairo | 1,800 nm | Hawker 850XP | Only one reaches non-stop — the other would need a fuel stop (1800 nm > 1,858 nm). |
Distances are great-circle approximations; actual fuel planning accounts for winds, weather and reserves.
FAQ
Hawker 850XP vs Citation Excel — frequently asked
Hawker 850XP vs Citation Excel: which has the longer range?OPEN
The Hawker 850XP has a published range of 2,642 nm; the Cessna Citation Excel is rated at 1,858 nm. The longer-range aircraft opens up more non-stop city pairs without a tech stop.
Which is faster — Hawker 850XP or Citation Excel?OPEN
Cruise speeds are Mach 0.80 for the Hawker 850XP and Mach 0.75 for the Cessna Citation Excel. On a Miami → Cabo San Lucas-style mission the faster aircraft typically saves 10–25 minutes block time.
How many passengers does each aircraft carry?OPEN
The Hawker 850XP seats 8; the Cessna Citation Excel seats 8. Charter prices below assume a typical executive layout — high-density configurations are available on request.
What does it cost to charter the Hawker 850XP vs the Cessna Citation Excel?OPEN
Indicative one-way pricing on a benchmark mission: Hawker 850XP from from $26,400, Cessna Citation Excel from from $10,400. 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 850XP × CITATION EXCEL CLUSTER
Continue researching Hawker 850XP or Citation Excel
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