Pilatus PC-24 private jetCessna Citation M2 Gen2 private jet

PC-24 vs Citation M2 Gen2

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

Pilatus PC-24

PILATUS

Pilatus PC-24

The Pilatus PC-24 is the only business jet in the world certified for short, unimproved and gravel runways. With a flat cabin floor, large cargo door and class-leading flexibility, it accesses 21,000 airports — far more than any rival.

FULL PILATUS PC-24 PAGE →
Cessna Citation M2 Gen2

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 →

SPECIFICATIONS

Side-by-side specifications

METRICPC-24Citation M2 Gen2
Passengers86
Range2,000 nm1,550 nm
Cruise speedMach 0.74Mach 0.71
Cabin height5'1"4'9"
Cabin width5'6"4'10"
Baggage90 cu ft46 cu ft
Runway2,930 ft3,250 ft

Pilatus PC-24 — strengths

  • Only jet certified for unimproved runways
  • Largest flat-floor cabin in class
  • Access to 21,000 airports worldwide

Cessna Citation M2 Gen2 — strengths

  • Lowest operating cost in the Citation line
  • Single-pilot certified
  • Modern Garmin G3000 flight deck

CHARTER PRICING

Indicative pricing

PILATUS PC-24
Geneva → St Moritzfrom CHF 8,200
Denver → Telluridefrom $8,700
CESSNA CITATION M2 GEN2
London → Parisfrom £3,400
Dallas → Austinfrom $4,200

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

EXPERT VERDICT

The PC-24 is the stronger all-rounder, but the Citation M2 Gen2 still wins on the metrics that matter to specific buyers.

The PC-24 pulls ahead on range / non-stop reach, cabin comfort, group capacity, airport access 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

PC-24

2,000 nm of range — the better choice for transcontinental and intercontinental missions.

Cabin comfort

PC-24

Taller and/or wider cabin (5'1" × 5'6") — better for long flights and stand-up movement.

Group capacity

PC-24

Seats up to 8 — the right pick when the manifest grows.

Airport access

PC-24

Shorter 2,930 ft balanced-field requirement — opens up restricted alpine, island and city-adjacent airfields.

Speed & block time

PC-24

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.

REQUEST A CHARTER QUOTE

Charter the PC-24 or the Citation M2 Gen2.

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 PC-24 and Citation M2 Gen2: the deciding reasons in this matchup, plus the buyer archetypes each aircraft serves best.

PILATUS

Top reasons to choose the PC-24

  • Reaches 2,000 nm non-stop — 29% more range than the Citation M2 Gen2, opening city pairs that would otherwise need a tech stop.
  • Cruises at Mach 0.74, trimming block time on every leg vs the Citation M2 Gen2 (Mach 0.71).
  • Bigger cabin envelope (5'1" tall × 5'6" wide) than the Citation M2 Gen2 — meaningful difference on flights over three hours.
  • Seats up to 8 passengers vs 6 on the Citation M2 Gen2 — better for full-group charters and family travel.
  • Lands in 2,930 ft balanced field — accesses short, restricted and city-adjacent airports the Citation M2 Gen2 cannot.

BEST FOR

  • Longer non-stop reach

    When the mission is on the edge of the Citation M2 Gen2's envelope, the 2,000 nm legs of the PC-24 keep reserves intact.

  • Larger party charters

    Up to 8 seats vs 6 on the Citation M2 Gen2 — the natural pick when the manifest grows last-minute.

  • Short-field departures

    2,930 ft balanced field unlocks airports the Citation M2 Gen2 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.

CESSNA

Top reasons to choose the Citation M2 Gen2

  • Lowest operating cost in the Citation line
  • Single-pilot certified
  • Modern Garmin G3000 flight deck

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

PILATUS

Pilatus PC-24

PROS

  • +Only jet certified for unimproved runways
  • +Largest flat-floor cabin in class
  • +Access to 21,000 airports worldwide
  • +Longer legs than the Citation M2 Gen2 (2,000 nm vs 1,550 nm) — fewer fuel stops on intercontinental missions.
  • +Carries up to 8 passengers vs 6 on the Citation M2 Gen2 — better for larger groups.
  • +Faster cruise (Mach 0.74) trims block time on every leg vs the Citation M2 Gen2.

CONS

  • Marginally more expensive per block hour than the Citation M2 Gen2 on typical charter quotes — confirm with a live quote for your route.

CESSNA

Cessna Citation M2 Gen2

PROS

  • +Lowest operating cost in the Citation line
  • +Single-pilot certified
  • +Modern Garmin G3000 flight deck

CONS

  • Shorter range than the PC-24 (1,550 nm vs 2,000 nm) — may require a tech stop on long sectors.
  • Maximum 6-seat layout is tight if you regularly travel with more than 6 — the PC-24 adds 2 seats.
  • Slightly slower in cruise than the PC-24 (Mach 0.71 vs Mach 0.74).
  • Lower ceiling than the PC-24 (4'9" vs 5'1") — stand-up movement is restricted.
  • Tighter baggage capacity than the PC-24 (46 cu ft vs 90 cu ft).

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 PICKPC-24

Curated example: Zurich → Courchevel sits in the PC-24's sweet spot.

SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →

SCENARIO 02

Weekend ski trip — Geneva to Sion with full ski equipment

OUR PICKPC-24

Shorter runway requirement (2,930 ft) opens up the airfield.

SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →

SCENARIO 03

Day-return board meeting between secondary cities

OUR PICKPC-24

Curated example: Zurich → Courchevel sits in the PC-24's sweet spot.

SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →

SCENARIO 04

Family of five to a Mediterranean island for a long weekend

OUR PICKPC-24

Larger cabin seats the full group (8).

SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →

ROUTE RECOMMENDATIONS

Best pick per route

ROUTEDISTANCERECOMMENDEDWHY
London → Paris190 nmPC-24Both reach it, but the longer-legged option keeps more fuel reserves for weather and routing changes.
Geneva → Ibiza560 nmPC-24Both reach it, but the longer-legged option keeps more fuel reserves for weather and routing changes.
Teterboro → Miami950 nmPC-24Both reach it, but the longer-legged option keeps more fuel reserves for weather and routing changes.
London → Athens1,500 nmPC-24Only one reaches non-stop — the other would need a fuel stop (1500 nm > 1,550 nm).

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

FAQ

PC-24 vs Citation M2 Gen2 — frequently asked

PC-24 vs Citation M2 Gen2: which has the longer range?OPEN

The Pilatus PC-24 has a published range of 2,000 nm; the Cessna Citation M2 Gen2 is rated at 1,550 nm. The longer-range aircraft opens up more non-stop city pairs without a tech stop.

Which is faster — PC-24 or Citation M2 Gen2?OPEN

Cruise speeds are Mach 0.74 for the Pilatus PC-24 and Mach 0.71 for the Cessna Citation M2 Gen2. On a Geneva → St Moritz-style mission the faster aircraft typically saves 10–25 minutes block time.

How many passengers does each aircraft carry?OPEN

The Pilatus PC-24 seats 8; the Cessna Citation M2 Gen2 seats 6. Charter prices below assume a typical executive layout — high-density configurations are available on request.

What does it cost to charter the Pilatus PC-24 vs the Cessna Citation M2 Gen2?OPEN

Indicative one-way pricing on a benchmark mission: Pilatus PC-24 from from CHF 8,200, Cessna Citation M2 Gen2 from from £3,400. 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 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

PC-24 × CITATION M2 GEN2 CLUSTER

Continue researching PC-24 or Citation M2 Gen2

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