Aircraft Citation XLS+, 2020

A 2020 aircraft, s/n 560-6290. 1,769 flight hours over 1,446 cycles — about 290 hours a year, well below the market average of 350–450. Cabin — 8 seats. Average sector — 1.2 h: typical short business legs. A flight attendant and hot meals are available depending on cabin configuration. There is no in-flight baggage access — bags are loaded on the ground. Send us a request — we'll prepare options, calculate running costs and analyse the best fit for your task.

The average pre-owned price for the model is $12M. Running costs at 300–400 h/year — about $2.29M/year, or $5,725 per flight hour. The price of a specific aircraft depends on year, hours flown and engine-programme status. Send us a request — we'll prepare options, calculate running costs and analyse the best fit for your task.

Cessna (Textron Aviation) created the Citation, the best-selling business-jet family in the world: more than 8,000 built. The line is built as a ladder: the very light M2 Gen 2, light CJ3/CJ4 Gen 2, midsize XLS Gen 2, Ascend and Latitude, and super-midsize Longitude. The brand's philosophy is predictable economics, easy handling and the most developed service network in the industry. Send us a request — we'll prepare options, calculate running costs and analyse the best fit for your task.

The Citation holds the record for fleet size, so support is easier than for any rival: Textron alone has over 40 authorised centres, and common parts are stocked in Europe and the Middle East. The Williams FJ44 and P&W 500-series engines run 3,500–5,000 hours between overhauls. CJ-series fleet dispatch reliability is steadily above 99.5%. Send us a request — we'll prepare options, calculate running costs and analyse the best fit for your task.

Light CJs are among the most liquid jets: a ten-year-old CJ3+ sells for $6.5–8M against a new CJ3 Gen 2 at about $11.5M — losing well under half its value. Average exposure is 60–90 days. The quickest to sell have engines on the TAP programme and current Garmin G3000 avionics; jets with 'bare' engines are discounted $1–1.5M. Send us a request — we'll prepare options, calculate running costs and analyse the best fit for your task.

An eternal light-class rivalry: Citation CJ4 Gen 2 versus Phenom 300E. The Phenom is faster (M0.80 versus M0.77) and more fashionable inside; the CJ4 carries more fuel and works more confidently off short strips. The Citation fleet is far larger — a plus for liquidity and parts availability. Ownership costs are comparable: ~$2.5–3M a year at 400 hours. Send us a request — we'll prepare options, calculate running costs and analyse the best fit for your task.

The midsize class covers 4–6-hour legs: London–Dubai, Geneva–Istanbul, Vienna–Dubai. A range of 3,900–6,200 km allows nonstop flights from Europe to the Gulf, India and North Africa. The cabin now allows standing (1.73–1.83 m), work at a table and a flight as a working day — the class is chosen for its balance of range, comfort and price. Send us a request — we'll prepare options, calculate running costs and analyse the best fit for your task.

Layouts are 8–9 seats, with up to nine passengers on the Citation Latitude and Praetor 500 with two pilots. Range: Citation XLS+ and PC-24 about 3,900 km, Hawker 800XP/900XP 4,600–4,900 km, Latitude 5,280 km, Praetor 500 a class-record 6,200 km. Cruise 780–850 km/h. Holds of 1.3–2.3 m³ take a whole group's gear, including skis. Send us a request — we'll prepare options, calculate running costs and analyse the best fit for your task.

To the light class the midsize adds a stand-up cabin, an extra 1,000–2,000 km and a full galley — but an hour is $1,500–2,500 dearer. The super-midsize goes further: 6,300–7,400 km, a flat floor, sleeping berths — and another $1,000–2,000 on the hour. Midsize is justified on 4–6-hour routes for up to nine people; transatlantic and large parties call for super-midsize. Send us a request — we'll prepare options, calculate running costs and analyse the best fit for your task.

The widest price spread: 2000s Hawker 800XP/900XP and Learjet 60XR $2–4.5M (cheap due to fuel burn and system age), Citation XLS+ $7–13M, Pilatus PC-24 $9–11M, fresh Latitude and Praetor 500 $14–18M. Beyond engine time, watch the cost of upcoming heavy checks: on older Hawkers an inspection can run $500K+. Send us a request — we'll prepare options, calculate running costs and analyse the best fit for your task.

The standard path takes 6–10 weeks. Step 1: a letter of intent (LOI) with price and terms — 3–5 days. Step 2: a 5–10% deposit into escrow and signing of the purchase agreement. Step 3: a pre-purchase inspection — 1–3 weeks. Step 4: rectification of findings and price adjustment. Step 5: closing — simultaneous transfer of funds, title and risk, technical acceptance and ferry of the aircraft.

A pre-purchase inspection (PPI) is an independent check at a certified centre: airframe, engines, corrosion, records and compliance with airworthiness directives. It takes from 3 days on a turboprop to 2–3 weeks on a heavy jet and costs $15–100K — paid by the buyer. By market practice the seller pays to rectify airworthiness-affecting defects. A seller refusing a PPI is grounds to walk away.