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Fly Tango Jets / Fleet / Citation Excel

Private Jet Charter — Citation Excel

MIDSIZE JET CHARTER — NEAR STAND-UP CABIN, SHORT-FIELD PERFORMANCE, WORLD-CLASS SALES RECORD

Aircraft Profile

Citation Excel — Private Charter Specifications

 
ManufacturerCessna / Textron Aviation (USA)
Aircraft TypeMidsize Jet
Max Passengers7–9 passengers
Cabin Dimensions18 ft 8 in long × 5 ft 6 in wide × 5 ft 8 in high
Range~1,850–2,100 nm (Excel / XLS / XLS+ variants)
Flight Time~4.5–5.5 hours
Cruise Speed441 knots (XLS)
Engines2 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PW545 turbofan
Service Ceiling45,000 ft (reached in 18 minutes)
Stand-Up CabinNear stand-up — 5 ft 8 in cabin height
Flat FloorYes — one of the defining features
Baggage Capacity80 cu ft external + 10 cu ft internal closet
Notable StrengthsOne of the world’s best-selling private jets, short-field capability, flat floor, 461 cu ft cabin volume, triple-pane windows on XLS

Why Charter a Citation Excel Private Jet?

Few aircraft in private aviation can match the Cessna Citation Excel for sheer longevity of market popularity. Since 1998, it has consistently ranked among the best-selling midsize jets in the world — a distinction earned by delivering the combination clients actually want: a flat-floor cabin with near stand-up headroom, short-airfield performance that puts it in the same landing envelope as light jets, and Pratt & Whitney PW545 engines that keep operating costs well below comparable midsize aircraft.

A Cabin Built on Customer Research

Cessna developed the Excel directly from a comprehensive customer survey. The result was a cabin measuring 18 ft 8 in long × 5 ft 6 in wide × 5 ft 8 in high — 461 cubic feet of total volume — with a flat floor throughout, six large reclining seats in club configuration, a forward minibar area, and 11 large windows that fill the interior with natural light. The XLS variant added triple-pane windows and triple-sealed doors for measurably lower cabin noise.

 

Short-Runway Access That Rivals Light Jets

One of the Excel’s most operationally significant advantages is its ability to use short runways typically reserved for light jets. It operates comfortably into airports like London City (LCY), Cannes (CEQ), Lugano (LUG), and Bern (BRN) — destinations that impose steep approaches or runway length constraints that exclude most midsize aircraft. For European charter travel in particular, this dramatically expands the number of accessible destinations.

80 Cubic Feet of External Baggage

The Citation Excel’s 80 cubic foot external baggage compartment — plus a 10 cubic foot internal closet — handles full luggage for all 7 to 9 passengers with room to spare. The external hold has been confirmed to accommodate at least three large suitcases, two golf bags, and three pieces of hand luggage simultaneously. For leisure travel to beach, ski, or golf destinations, this cargo capacity eliminates the compromises typical of smaller midsize jets.

Citation Excel private flight interior

Key Advantages

World-Class Sales Record for a Reason.

Over 300 Citation Excel aircraft were delivered in the first six years of production alone. The combination of a flat-floor near stand-up cabin, short-field performance, 80 cu ft baggage, and efficient Pratt & Whitney engines explains why it remains one of the most chartered midsize jets on the market.

Knowledge Center

Charter a Citation Excel — FAQ

Common questions about Citation Excel private jet charter flights with Fly Tango Jets.

All three share the same airframe and cabin, but with successive upgrades. The original Excel (1998) uses PW545A engines, the XLS (2004) upgraded to PW545B engines for higher speed (441 knots) and a faster climb to 43,000 ft, and the XLS+ (2008) added PW545C engines for the highest range (~2,100 nm) and further noise reduction via triple-pane windows and triple-sealed doors. The XLS Gen2, launched in 2022, introduced new ergonomic leather seats and updated cabin technology.
The standard Citation Excel seats 7 to 8 passengers in club configuration, with an additional side-facing seat at the rear available in some configurations to accommodate a 9th passenger. The cabin is 18 ft 8 in long — one of the largest in the midsize category — with a flat floor throughout and 11 large cabin windows.
Yes — this is one of the Excel’s most distinctive operational advantages. With a takeoff roll of approximately 3,590 ft and the ability to use steep-approach runways, the Excel regularly operates at airports like London City (LCY), Cannes (CEQ), and various short-runway alpine and island destinations that exclude most competing midsize jets. No other aircraft in its category offers this combination of cabin size and runway versatility.
The Citation Excel has an 80 cubic foot external baggage compartment plus a 10 cubic foot internal closet — enough for at least three large suitcases, two golf bags, and three pieces of hand luggage simultaneously. This is one of the most generous baggage allowances in the midsize category and a key reason the Excel is favored for leisure charter travel.
Range varies by variant: the original Excel offers approximately 1,850 nm, the XLS ~1,900 nm, and the XLS+ reaches approximately 2,100 nautical miles under standard conditions. All variants comfortably cover popular routes like New York to Miami, Chicago to Aspen, Chicago to Dallas, and New York to Los Angeles as a one-stop with a single fuel call.
Yes — particularly within Europe and for transatlantic-adjacent routes. The Excel’s short-field capability allows it to operate into city-center airports like London City that are inaccessible to most midsize jets. For US-to-Caribbean routes, the XLS and XLS+ variants have the range to connect South Florida to multiple island destinations nonstop.

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Book Your Private Citation Excel Charter

Request a private Citation Excel charter quote from Fly Tango Jets. Near stand-up cabin, flat floor, 80 cu ft baggage, short-field performance — one of the most-chartered midsize jets in the world for good reason.

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