Seats
Six passenger seats in most charter layouts. The belted lavatory can be certified as a seat for take-off and landing, but it is not a cabin seat, and we do not count it as one.
Cessna Citation CJ3 and CJ3+ private jet charter
A light jet for shorter private flights. The right choice depends on the actual aircraft's seats, your luggage and the route, so tell us the party and the itinerary and we confirm each option's fit before you decide.
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Photo: André Gerwing, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Passengers
- 6, up to 8
- Published range
- About 1,875 nm
- Speed
- 416 kn cruise
- Cabin height
- 4 ft 9 in
- Baggage
- 65 cu ft
- Category
- Light jet
Light jet · Cessna
Why charter a Citation CJ3 or CJ3+
The Citation CJ3 family is a light jet for up to six on one- to two-and-a-half-hour legs, when the party and its bags fit the actual aircraft.
Who it suits
Two to five people with soft bags on short European or US sectors: London to Paris, Geneva, Nice or Palma, New York to Boston. It needs about 3,200 ft of runway at maximum weight, so it uses smaller airports too.
Against the Phenom 300
The Phenom 300 has a slightly larger cabin, a bigger aft hold and a little more speed. Our route tables put the two in the same light-jet row, and which is quoted for your trip depends on the aircraft available, not the type alone.
Where it falls short
The cabin is 4 ft 9 in high, so you stoop to move about. The seventh place on many aircraft is the belted lavatory, not a cabin seat, and with six aboard and their luggage the range shortens. There is no cabin attendant.
Citation CJ3 specifications
Published figures for the type. Seating, beds and connectivity vary with each aircraft's layout and operator, and we confirm them for the actual aircraft before you book.
| Specification | Citation CJ3 | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Light jet | |
| Passengers | 6 typical, up to 8 | |
| Published range | 1,875 nm | 3,470 km |
| Speed | About 416 kn in typical cruise | 770 km/h |
| Maximum altitude | 45,000 ft | 13,716 m |
| Cabin height | 4 ft 9 in | 1.45 m |
| Cabin width | 4 ft 10 in | 1.47 m |
| Cabin length | 15 ft 8 in | 4.78 m |
| Length, wingspan, height | 51 ft 2 in long, 53 ft 4 in wingspan, 15 ft 2 in high | 15.6 × 16.3 × 4.6 m |
| Baggage | 65 cu ft, external: 15 cu ft in the nose and 50 cu ft in the tailcone, 1,000 lb in all; not reachable in flight | 1.8 m³ |
| Take-off distance | 3,180 ft | 969 m |
| Crew | Certified for one pilot; the operator confirms the crew for each charter | |
| Connectivity | Optional and fitted aircraft by aircraft. The air-to-ground systems approved for the type work over North America only, and many European aircraft have none, so it is confirmed on the actual aircraft | |
| In service | CJ3 2004; CJ3+ 2014 | |
| Production | 500 CJ3 and CJ3+ delivered by 2018 and the 600th of the series, a CJ3+, in 2021; succeeded by the CJ3 Gen2, delivered since January 2026 |
Range as published: CJ3+ NBAA IFR range at maximum take-off weight with full fuel and maximum cruise thrust at 45,000 ft (Cessna specification, 2015). Textron's 2,040 nm is a ferry range at long-range cruise, with no passengers. On the day it depends on passengers and luggage, winds, the airports, temperature and the reserves the operator carries.
Sources: Cessna Citation CJ3+ specification and description, October 2015, Textron Aviation, Citation CJ3+ brochure, 2022, EASA type certificate data sheet EASA.IM.A.078 (Cessna 525 series), issue 19, May 2026, AOPA, CJ3+ certified, September 2014, Textron Aviation, 600th CJ3-series delivery, April 2021, Textron Aviation, CJ3 Gen2 enters service, January 2026, Wikipedia: Cessna CitationJet/M2 (first flight, deliveries).
Citation CJ3 and CJ3+ vs Phenom 300
The CJ3+ of 2014 is the CJ3 with a Garmin G3000 flight deck in place of the Collins Pro Line 21, LED cabin lighting and a slightly higher zero-fuel weight; the cabin, engines and hold are unchanged, and Wi-Fi is fitted aircraft by aircraft. The CJ3 Gen2, delivered since January 2026, is not covered here.
The Phenom 300 has a slightly larger cabin and hold and is a little faster; the 300E, from 2018, has a new cabin. The published ranges are measured on different bases, so compare them loosely.
| Version | CJ3 | CJ3+ | Phenom 300 | Phenom 300E |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In service | 2004 | 2014 | 2009 | 2018 |
| Cabin height and width | 4 ft 9 in, 4 ft 10 in | 4 ft 9 in, 4 ft 10 in | 4 ft 11 in, 5 ft 1 in | 4 ft 11 in, 5 ft 1 in |
| Cabin length | 15 ft 8 in | 15 ft 8 in | 17 ft 2 in | 17 ft 2 in |
| Usual passenger seats | 6, and a belted lavatory | 6, and a belted lavatory | 6, and a side seat or belted lavatory | 6, and a side seat or belted lavatory |
| Baggage | 65 cu ft, nose and tailcone | 65 cu ft, nose and tailcone | 84 cu ft, 66 in the aft hold | 84 cu ft, 66 in the aft hold |
| Top cruise | 416 kn | 416 kn | 453 kn | 464 kn from 2020 |
| Published range | 1,875 nm, full fuel | 1,875 nm, full fuel | 1,971 nm | 2,010 nm from 2020, five aboard |
| Cabin altitude at the ceiling | 8,000 ft at 45,000 ft | 8,000 ft at 45,000 ft | 6,600 ft | 6,600 ft |
Citation CJ3 interior and cabin
Cessna's standard layout has six passenger seats: a club of four facing each other and two forward-facing seats behind a divider at the rear, with a refreshment centre opposite the door and the lavatory at the back. Some aircraft have a side-facing seat in place of the refreshment centre. The seats, the lavatory and what is on board vary between aircraft, so we confirm them, with photographs, for each option.
Lavatory
At the back of the cabin on the left, a belted flushing toilet behind sliding privacy doors in the standard layout; confirm the fit of the actual aircraft.
Baggage
Two external compartments: 15 cu ft in the nose and 50 cu ft in the tailcone, whose 20 by 26 in door takes skis up to 215 cm. That is 65 cu ft and 1,000 lb in all, and nothing is reachable in flight.
Catering and service
A refreshment centre with an ice drawer and a catering drawer, for cold food and drinks. The crew are the pilots; there is no cabin attendant.
Cabin air
Pressurised to an 8,000 ft cabin at the 45,000 ft ceiling.
Citation CJ3 range in practice
Cessna publishes 1,875 nm for the CJ3+ with full fuel at maximum take-off weight, and Textron's brochure 2,040 nm as a ferry flight with no passengers. Neither is a charter range: with full tanks the payload left is small, so with six passengers and their bags the aircraft carries less fuel. Winds, routing, the runway, reserves and the operator's limits decide whether a leg is non-stop.
The legs it is usually proposed for are short: an hour to London from Paris, two and a quarter hours from London to Palma. For longer sectors with a full cabin, or for winter headwinds, the operator may plan a fuel stop or propose a larger aircraft, and it tells you before you book.
- Non-stop New York to Boston, about 50 minutes Teterboro or White Plains to Boston, the short hop it is most often proposed for in the US.
- Non-stop London to Paris, about 1 hour 05 London City, Biggin Hill or Farnborough to Le Bourget.
- Non-stop London to Geneva, about 1 hour 35 Skis up to 215 cm fit through the tailcone door; tell us how many pairs.
- Non-stop Nice to London, about 2 hours 05 Home from the Riviera into Farnborough, Biggin Hill or London City.
- Non-stop London to Palma, about 2 hours 15 Farnborough to Palma, for a small party with soft bags.
- Usually non-stop London to Ibiza, about 2 hours 20 The longest leg it is usually proposed for from London; with a full cabin and a headwind, the operator confirms the plan.
Routes and destinations for the Citation CJ3
Trips this aircraft flies well, each with its own page: the airports at both ends, flight times and indicative prices by cabin.
Popular routes
- New York to BostonUnder an hour, with the hold in the nose and the tail for weekend bags.
- Washington to New YorkAbout an hour from Washington to Teterboro or White Plains.
- Los Angeles to Las VegasVan Nuys to Las Vegas in under an hour.
- London to ParisAbout an hour from London City or Biggin Hill to Le Bourget.
- London to GenevaAn hour and a half, with skis through the tailcone door.
- Nice to LondonAbout two hours back from the Riviera.
- London to Palma de MallorcaAbout two hours and a quarter, for a small party with soft bags.
- London to IbizaAbout two hours and twenty minutes, near the top of its usual range from London.
Destinations and events
- Private jet to ParisLe Bourget takes almost every private flight into Paris and puts you thirty minutes from the 8th arrondissement.
- Private jet to GenevaGeneva's four private terminals are fifteen minutes from the lakefront and a helicopter ride from Courchevel, Verbier and Gstaad.
- Private jet to NiceNice Côte d'Azur is the airport for Monaco, Cannes and Saint-Tropez, twenty minutes from the Promenade and seven by helicopter to Monaco.
- Private jet to IbizaIbiza's private terminal is ten minutes from the town, and from June to September the slot, not the aircraft, is what decides whether you land.
Citation CJ3 charter cost
Our route tables put the CJ3 in the same light-jet row as the Phenom 300, as indicative one-way prices for the whole aircraft: from about €7,500 for London to Paris, €10,000 for London to Geneva, €12,500 for London to Palma and $5,500 for New York to Boston. Which of the two is quoted lower for a given trip depends on the aircraft available, where it is based and any positioning, not the type alone.
The operator's written quote lists the flying, any positioning, landing and handling, taxes, the crew's nights away and catering, with one total before you commit.
As a guide, light jets charter at about $3,500 to $5,500 an hour for the aircraft, crew and fuel. Positioning, airport charges, overnight costs and the season are added for the trip, and the quote is one figure in writing.
Aircraft comparable to the Citation CJ3
When the Citation CJ3 is not available on your dates, or the trip asks for something slightly different, these are the aircraft we would put beside it.
Cessna Citation CJ3 and CJ3+
A Citation CJ3 for your dates
Tell us the route, the dates and how many are flying. We check which Citation CJ3s are available near your departure, send priced options with photographs of each aircraft, and suggest a comparable type when that serves the trip better.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the CJ3 and the CJ3+?
The CJ3+, certified in 2014, replaced the CJ3's Collins Pro Line 21 flight deck with a Garmin G3000 and added LED cabin lighting and a slightly higher zero-fuel weight. The cabin, the engines and the hold are the same size. Since January 2026 Cessna delivers the CJ3 Gen2, with an autothrottle and cabin updates. We tell you which version each option is.
How many passengers does a Citation CJ3 seat?
Six in most charter layouts: a club of four and two forward-facing seats at the back. Some aircraft carry a seventh person on the belted lavatory, which is certified for take-off and landing but is not a cabin seat. The EASA type certificate allows up to eight passengers. We confirm the seats on the actual aircraft.
How much luggage fits in a CJ3?
Cessna publishes 65 cu ft in two external compartments, 15 in the nose and 50 in the tailcone, with 1,000 lb in all. How many cases that means depends on their size and whether they are soft or hard, so tell us the number and size of the bags and anything like golf bags, skis or a pushchair. The tailcone door takes skis up to 215 cm. Weight counts too: a full cabin and full tanks leave little payload.
What is the range of the Citation CJ3+?
Cessna's specification gives 1,875 nm with full fuel at maximum take-off weight, and Textron's brochure 2,040 nm as a ferry flight with no passengers. With six passengers and luggage it carries less fuel, so the legs it is usually proposed for are up to about two and a half hours, such as London to Palma or Ibiza. The operator confirms the plan, and any fuel stop, for your trip.
Should I charter a CJ3 or a Phenom 300?
For four or fewer with soft bags on a short leg, either can suit. The Phenom 300 has 2 in more headroom, 3 in more width, about 18 in more cabin length and a larger aft hold of 66 cu ft against the CJ3's 50 in the tailcone, and it is a little faster. Our route tables price the two in the same light-jet row; the quote for your trip depends on the aircraft available.
Can you stand up in a CJ3, and is there a toilet?
No, the cabin is 4 ft 9 in high, so you stoop to move about. There is a lavatory at the back, a belted flushing toilet behind sliding doors in the standard layout. If standing room matters, the Citation XLS+ has a stand-up aisle.
Does a Citation CJ3 have Wi-Fi?
Some do. Wi-Fi is optional and fitted aircraft by aircraft; the air-to-ground systems approved for the type work over North America, and many European aircraft have no Wi-Fi at all. We confirm connectivity on each aircraft offered.
How much does it cost to charter a Citation CJ3?
Priced per trip, not per type. On our route pages a light jet such as the CJ3 is indicative from about €7,500 one way for London to Paris, €12,500 for London to Palma and $5,500 for New York to Boston, for the whole aircraft. Positioning, the season and nights away move the figure, and the operator's written quote gives the total.
Request a Citation CJ3 quote
Where from, where to, the dates and how many are flying. We come back with priced Citation CJ3 options and comparable aircraft, usually the same day.