Aircraft guide
Cessna Citation XLS Charter Cost and Specs
At a glance
Seating, speed, range, and cost
Typical passengers
About seven to eight passengers.
Cruise speed
~440 kt
Planning range
~2800 nm
Hourly cost range
$3,900 to $6,200
Use
What this aircraft is used for
The Citation XLS is one of the most popular midsize jets, valued for a stand-up cabin, reliability, and a good balance of cost and capability.
Comfortable for about seven to eight passengers with a stand-up cabin.
Best uses
Best route types
- Trips up to roughly three to four hours
- Coast to region routes
- Small group travel with more baggage
Tradeoffs
Limitations to keep in mind
- Not a reliable non-stop transcontinental aircraft
- Higher hourly cost than light jets
- Smaller than super midsize cabins for the longest trips
Good range for medium trips with a stand-up cabin.
Alternatives
Similar aircraft and categories
Common questions
Why is the Citation XLS so common?
It is a proven midsize jet with a stand-up cabin and a strong balance of comfort, reliability, and operating cost, which keeps it popular in charter fleets.
How many passengers fit in a Citation XLS?
About seven to eight comfortably, with more baggage room than a light jet.
Can the XLS fly transcontinental?
It can cover long domestic legs but is not a reliable non-stop coast to coast aircraft in all conditions.
Routes this aircraft commonly flies
- New York to MiamiPlanning charter cost range, aircraft fit, and routing notes for New York to Miami.
- New York to Palm BeachPlanning charter cost range, aircraft fit, and routing notes for New York to Palm Beach.
- New York to AspenPlanning charter cost range, aircraft fit, and routing notes for New York to Aspen.
Estimate a trip on this aircraft
- Charter CostEstimate the cost range of a private charter from flight time, aircraft category, trip type, and trip details.
- Aircraft Hourly RateSee planning hourly rate ranges by aircraft category and estimate a flight cost from hours, with a reference table across all categories.
- Split CostSee per person and per group cost when a group shares a single private charter, including host subsidies.
- AircraftCompare aircraft categories by passengers, speed, range, and planning hourly cost.
Last reviewed June 2026. Estimates use planning assumptions that we revisit periodically.