A head-to-head look at two of the most-chartered aircraft in the turboprop class.
PILATUS
The Pilatus PC-12 NGX is the world's most-delivered single-engine turbine aircraft — exceptional reliability, jet-style cabin appointments and unmatched short-runway access at the most economical operating cost in private aviation.
FULL PILATUS PC-12 NGX PAGE →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 →SPECIFICATIONS
| METRIC | PC-12 NGX | Citation CJ3+ |
|---|---|---|
| Passengers | 6–8 | 6–7 |
| Range | 1,803 nm | 2,040 nm |
| Cruise speed | 290 kts | Mach 0.737 |
| Cabin height | 4'10" | 4'9" |
| Cabin width | 5'0" | 4'10" |
| Baggage | 40 cu ft | 65 cu ft |
| Runway | 2,485 ft | 3,180 ft |
CHARTER PRICING
| Zurich → St Moritz | from CHF 4,800 |
| Denver → Aspen | from $6,800 |
| London → Geneva | from £8,400 |
| Nice → Olbia | from €5,900 |
| Miami → Nassau | from $7,500 |
All-inclusive indicative one-way pricing. Confirmed quote in 10 minutes.
EXPERT VERDICT
The PC-12 NGX pulls ahead on cabin comfort, group capacity and airport access; the Citation CJ3+ answers with range / non-stop reach and speed & block time. Because the PC-12 NGX (turboprop) and Citation CJ3+ (light jet) sit in different segments, charter pricing diverges noticeably — match the aircraft to the mission, not the budget.
Range / non-stop reach
Citation CJ3+
2,040 nm of range — the better choice for transcontinental and intercontinental missions.
Cabin comfort
PC-12 NGX
Taller and/or wider cabin (4'10" × 5'0") — better for long flights and stand-up movement.
Group capacity
PC-12 NGX
Seats up to 8 — the right pick when the manifest grows.
Airport access
PC-12 NGX
Shorter 2,485 ft balanced-field requirement — opens up restricted alpine, island and city-adjacent airfields.
Speed & block time
Citation CJ3+
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
PILATUS
PROS
CONS
CESSNA
PROS
CONS
REAL-WORLD MISSIONS
Four scenarios our charter desk sees regularly — and which of these two we would actually quote.
SCENARIO 01
Shorter runway requirement (2,485 ft) opens up the airfield.
SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →SCENARIO 02
Shorter runway requirement (2,485 ft) opens up the airfield.
SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →SCENARIO 03
Shorter runway requirement (2,485 ft) opens up the airfield.
SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →SCENARIO 04
Shorter runway requirement (2,485 ft) opens up the airfield.
SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →ROUTE RECOMMENDATIONS
| ROUTE | DISTANCE | RECOMMENDED | WHY |
|---|---|---|---|
| London → Paris | 190 nm | Citation CJ3+ | Both reach it, but the longer-legged option keeps more fuel reserves for weather and routing changes. |
| Geneva → Ibiza | 560 nm | Citation CJ3+ | Both reach it, but the longer-legged option keeps more fuel reserves for weather and routing changes. |
| Teterboro → Miami | 950 nm | Citation CJ3+ | Both reach it, but the longer-legged option keeps more fuel reserves for weather and routing changes. |
| London → Athens | 1,500 nm | Citation CJ3+ | 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
The Pilatus PC-12 NGX has a published range of 1,803 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.
Cruise speeds are 290 kts for the Pilatus PC-12 NGX and Mach 0.737 for the Cessna Citation CJ3+. On a Zurich → St Moritz-style mission the faster aircraft typically saves 10–25 minutes block time.
The Pilatus PC-12 NGX seats 6–8; the Cessna Citation CJ3+ seats 6–7. Charter prices below assume a typical executive layout — high-density configurations are available on request.
Indicative one-way pricing on a benchmark mission: Pilatus PC-12 NGX from from CHF 4,800, Cessna Citation CJ3+ from from £8,400. Confirmed quote in 10 minutes — pricing varies with empty-leg availability, season and routing.
Both belong to the Turboprop category, but range, payload and runway performance differ. See the route-recommendations table on this page for our specific pick per corridor.
MORE COMPARISONS
PC-12 NGX × CITATION CJ3+ CLUSTER
CHARTER EITHER AIRCRAFT
EDITORIAL GUIDES
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