Summary

• Cessna is one of the major players in the private jet sector, with the manfuacturer delivering 144 private jets in 2023.
• Some of its key products include the Citation Longitude, Citation M2 Gen2, Citation CJ3+, and Citation CJ4 Gen2.
• In 2023, its most popular private jet was the Citation Latitude.

With almost a century-long history, Cessna has become one of the most renowned aircraft manufacturers in the world. While the company has avoided dabbling into the commercial aircraft space, the Wichita, Kansas, United States-based plane maker has been building general aviation (GA) and private aircraft for decades.

In total, Textron Aviation, the parent company of Cessna and Beechcraft, delivered 618 aircraft in 2023. Of these, 144 were Cessna-branded private jets, according to a report by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA). Speaking about the report, Textron said that it continues leading the industry in multiple segments, while Ron Draper, the President and chief executive officer (CEO) of the company, remarked that the legendary names of Cessna and Beechcraft are not defined by delivery numbers only.

“It is earned through consistent commitment to our customers’ success. This achievement is a result of the collective efforts of our team, leveraging the talent of our employees, the expertise of our suppliers and the partnership and feedback from our customers.”

As such, we take a look at the manufacturer’s most popular private jets in 2023, their specifications, and what kind of missions they are suited for. The following data is sourced from the annual GAMA report and Textron’s aircraft description pages.

5 Cessna Citation Longitude

2023 deliveries: 24

Aircraft specifications:

• Maximum passengers: 12
• Cabin height: 72 inches (1.8 meters)
• Cabin width: 77 inches (1.96 meters)
• Four passenger range: 3,500 nautical miles (6,482 kilometers)
• Maximum cruising speed: 556.1 miles per hour (895 kilometers per hour)

Cessna highlighted three main features of the Citation Longitude: transatlantic range, advanced engineering, and an unforgettable cabin experience. The trio comes together while also combining the lowest direct operating costs of any super-midsize jet to offer customers a well-balanced package.

In terms of all the Textron private jets that Cessna had handed over in 2023, the Citation Longitude had the fewest deliveries, with only 24 aircraft given over to its customers. Still, the aircraft type was part of NetJets’ huge order for 1,500 Cessna aircraft in September 2023.

4 Cessna Citation M2 Gen2

2023 deliveries: 25

Aircraft specifications:

• Maximum passengers: 7
• Cabin height: 57 inches (1.4 meters)
• Cabin width: 58 inches (1.47 meters)
• Maximum range: 1,550 nautical miles (2,871 kilometers)
• Maximum cruising speed: 464.7 miles per hour (748 kilometers per hour)

One of the most recent Cessna jets, the Citation M2 Gen2, entered service in April 2022, shortly after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granted the aircraft its type certificate (TC). According to Christi Tannahill, the Senior Vice President of Customer Experience at Textron, the entry-level jet segment was redesigned with the entry-into-service of the Citation M2, which was upgraded with the M2 Gen2 variant.

Speaking about the upgrades, Textron noted a reimagined interior, which was focused on both pilot and passenger comfort, as well as productivity. This means that passengers will find it easier to work while flying, and pilots will be able to utilize the latest cockpit technologies to reduce their workload while operating the Cessna Citation M2 Gen2.

3 Cessna Citation CJ3+

2023 deliveries: 30

Aircraft specifications:

• Maximum passengers: 9
• Cabin height: 57 inches (1.4 meters)
• Cabin width: 58 inches (1.47 meters)
• Maximum range: 2,040 nautical miles (3,778 kilometers)
• Maximum cruising speed: 478.4 miles per hour (770 kilometers per hour)

The Cessna Citation CJ3+, with 30 deliveries in 2023, was the third-most popular Cessna product during the year. The aircraft, which now counts a decade of active service, seats up to nine people with a maximum range of 2,040 nautical miles (3,778 kilometers).

However, starting in 2025, Cessna will build the Citation CJ3 Gen2. According to the company’s announcement, the CJ3 Gen2 will bring enhancements to the cockpit, new comfort and luxury standards for passengers, and performance improvements.

2 Cessna Citation CJ4 Gen2

2023 deliveries: 31

Aircraft specifications:

• Maximum passengers: 10
• Cabin height: 57 inches (1.4 meters)
• Cabin width: 58 inches (1.47 meters)
• Maximum range: 2,165 nautical miles (4,010 kilometers)
• Maximum cruising speed: 518.8 miles per hour (835 kilometers per hour)

While the CJ3+ will get a Gen2 upgrade sooner rather than later, the Cessna Citation CJ4 received its Gen2 in 2021. Then, Textron announced that the Citation M2 and Citation XLS would be upgraded, bringing changes to every part of both aircraft.

Speaking about the Citation CJ4 Gen2 specifically, Textron highlighted enhanced productivity for both pilots and passengers, adding that the aircraft was designed “thoughtfully” from front to back. Tannahill stated that the M2 quickly became one of the company’s most popular light jet models.

1 Cessna Citation Latitude

2023 deliveries: 41

Aircraft specifications:

• Maximum passengers: 9
• Cabin height: 72 inches (1.8 meters)
• Cabin width: 77 inches (1.96 meters)
• Four passenger range: 2,700 nautical miles (5,000 kilometers)
• Maximum cruising speed: 513.2 miles per hour (826 kilometers per hour)

Cessna began the early 2010s by announcing the Cessna Citation Latitude, a mid-sized business jet, in 2011. At the time, one of the company’s executives remarked that the Citation Latitude was a game-changer for the segment. In 2015, Textron broke the news that the business jet’s range and runway performance specifications exceeded previous projections.

Similarly to the Citation Longitude, the Citation Latitude was included in the NetJets order in September 2023. NetJets remarked that historical demand has indicated that the Citation Latitude and Citation Longitude, as well as the upcoming Citation Ascend, will be well received by NetJets customers.