BOMBARDIER
Bombardier Learjet 70
The Learjet 70 was the final development of the 40-series — Garmin G5000 flight deck, winglets and improved hot-and-high climb. A rare and modern light jet for executive charter.
FULL BOMBARDIER LEARJET 70 PAGE →
Learjet 70 vs Citation CJ3+
A head-to-head look at two of the most-chartered aircraft in the light jet class.
CESSNA
Cessna Citation CJ3+
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 →SPECIFICATIONS
Side-by-side specifications
| METRIC | Learjet 70 | Citation CJ3+ |
|---|---|---|
| Passengers | 6 | 6–7 |
| Range | 2,060 nm | 2,040 nm |
| Cruise speed | Mach 0.81 | Mach 0.737 |
| Cabin height | 4'11" | 4'9" |
| Cabin width | 5'1" | 4'10" |
| Baggage | 50 cu ft | 65 cu ft |
| Runway | 4,440 ft | 3,180 ft |
Bombardier Learjet 70 — strengths
- —Garmin G5000 flight deck
- —Winglets improve climb and fuel burn
- —Last of the Learjets — collectible airframe
Cessna Citation CJ3+ — strengths
- —Lowest seat-mile cost in its class
- —Short-runway access — Lugano, Courchevel, London City alternatives
- —Honeywell Primus avionics with synthetic vision
CHARTER PRICING
Indicative pricing
BOMBARDIER LEARJET 70
| Denver → Aspen (hot/high) | from $13,200 |
| Geneva → Olbia | from CHF 12,900 |
CESSNA CITATION CJ3+
| London → Geneva | from £5,000 |
| Nice → Olbia | from €3,500 |
| Miami → Nassau | from $4,500 |
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 Learjet 70 pulls ahead on range / non-stop reach, cabin comfort and speed & block time; the Citation CJ3+ answers with group capacity and 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
Learjet 70
2,060 nm of range — the better choice for transcontinental and intercontinental missions.
Cabin comfort
Learjet 70
Taller and/or wider cabin (4'11" × 5'1") — better for long flights and stand-up movement.
Group capacity
Citation CJ3+
Seats up to 7 — the right pick when the manifest grows.
Airport access
Citation CJ3+
Shorter 3,180 ft balanced-field requirement — opens up restricted alpine, island and city-adjacent airfields.
Speed & block time
Learjet 70
Cruise of Mach 0.81 — 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 Learjet 70 or the Citation CJ3+.
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CHOOSE WITH CONFIDENCE
Top reasons to choose — and who each aircraft is best for
A tailored summary for the Learjet 70 and Citation CJ3+: the deciding reasons in this matchup, plus the buyer archetypes each aircraft serves best.
BOMBARDIER
Top reasons to choose the Learjet 70
- ★Cruises at Mach 0.81, trimming block time on every leg vs the Citation CJ3+ (Mach 0.737).
- ★Bigger cabin envelope (4'11" tall × 5'1" wide) than the Citation CJ3+ — meaningful difference on flights over three hours.
- ★Garmin G5000 flight deck
- ★Winglets improve climb and fuel burn
- ★Last of the Learjets — collectible airframe
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.
CESSNA
Top reasons to choose the Citation CJ3+
- ★Seats up to 7 passengers vs 6 on the Learjet 70 — better for full-group charters and family travel.
- ★Lands in 3,180 ft balanced field — accesses short, restricted and city-adjacent airports the Learjet 70 cannot.
- ★65 cu ft of baggage volume — fits ski, golf and extended-stay luggage that crowds the Learjet 70.
- ★Lowest seat-mile cost in its class
- ★Short-runway access — Lugano, Courchevel, London City alternatives
BEST FOR
Larger party charters
Up to 7 seats vs 6 on the Learjet 70 — the natural pick when the manifest grows last-minute.
Short-field departures
3,180 ft balanced field unlocks airports the Learjet 70 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.
PROS & CONS
Honest assessment
BOMBARDIER
Bombardier Learjet 70
PROS
- +Garmin G5000 flight deck
- +Winglets improve climb and fuel burn
- +Last of the Learjets — collectible airframe
- +Faster cruise (Mach 0.81) trims block time on every leg vs the Citation CJ3+.
- +Taller cabin (4'11") than the Citation CJ3+ — easier to move around on long flights.
- +Wider cabin (5'1") makes a meaningful difference at the shoulders vs the Citation CJ3+.
CONS
- −Maximum 6-seat layout is tight if you regularly travel with more than 6 — the Citation CJ3+ adds 1 seat.
- −Needs more runway than the Citation CJ3+ (4,440 ft vs 3,180 ft) — fewer short-field options.
- −Tighter baggage capacity than the Citation CJ3+ (50 cu ft vs 65 cu ft).
CESSNA
Cessna Citation CJ3+
PROS
- +Lowest seat-mile cost in its class
- +Short-runway access — Lugano, Courchevel, London City alternatives
- +Honeywell Primus avionics with synthetic vision
- +Carries up to 7 passengers vs 6 on the Learjet 70 — better for larger groups.
- +Shorter runway requirement (3,180 ft) unlocks airfields the Learjet 70 cannot use.
- +Larger baggage hold (65 cu ft) — useful for ski, golf or extended luggage vs the Learjet 70.
CONS
- −Slightly slower in cruise than the Learjet 70 (Mach 0.737 vs Mach 0.81).
- −Lower ceiling than the Learjet 70 (4'9" vs 4'11") — 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
Two-hour business hop with four executives and overnight bags
OUR PICKLearjet 70
Curated example: Teterboro → Nantucket sits in the Learjet 70's sweet spot.
SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →SCENARIO 02
Weekend ski trip — Geneva to Sion with full ski equipment
OUR PICKCitation CJ3+
Shorter runway requirement (3,180 ft) opens up the airfield.
SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →SCENARIO 03
Day-return board meeting between secondary cities
OUR PICKLearjet 70
Curated example: Teterboro → Nantucket sits in the Learjet 70's sweet spot.
SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →SCENARIO 04
Family of five to a Mediterranean island for a long weekend
OUR PICKCitation CJ3+
Larger cabin seats the full group (6–7).
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 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
Learjet 70 vs Citation CJ3+ — frequently asked
Learjet 70 vs Citation CJ3+: which has the longer range?OPEN
The Bombardier Learjet 70 has a published range of 2,060 nm; the Cessna Citation CJ3+ is rated at 2,040 nm. The longer-range aircraft opens up more non-stop city pairs without a tech stop.
Which is faster — Learjet 70 or Citation CJ3+?OPEN
Cruise speeds are Mach 0.81 for the Bombardier Learjet 70 and Mach 0.737 for the Cessna Citation CJ3+. On a Denver → Aspen (hot/high)-style mission the faster aircraft typically saves 10–25 minutes block time.
How many passengers does each aircraft carry?OPEN
The Bombardier Learjet 70 seats 6; the Cessna Citation CJ3+ seats 6–7. Charter prices below assume a typical executive layout — high-density configurations are available on request.
What does it cost to charter the Bombardier Learjet 70 vs the Cessna Citation CJ3+?OPEN
Indicative one-way pricing on a benchmark mission: Bombardier Learjet 70 from from $13,200, Cessna Citation CJ3+ from from £5,000. 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 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
Compare more light jets
LEARJET 70 × CITATION CJ3+ CLUSTER
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