Cessna Citation CJ3+ vs Pilatus PC-24
The Citation CJ3+ flies further: 2,040 nm against 2,000 nm for the PC-24. The PC-24 has the bigger cabin: 501 cu ft against 286 cu ft for the Citation CJ3+. The PC-24 is faster at high-speed cruise: 440 kts against 416 kts for the Citation CJ3+.
Citation CJ3+ or PC-24?
Which flies further, the Citation CJ3+ or the PC-24?
The Citation CJ3+ flies further: 2,040 nm against 2,000 nm for the PC-24.
Which has the bigger cabin, the Citation CJ3+ or the PC-24?
The PC-24 has the bigger cabin: 501 cu ft against 286 cu ft for the Citation CJ3+.
Which is faster, the Citation CJ3+ or the PC-24?
The PC-24 is faster at high-speed cruise: 440 kts against 416 kts for the Citation CJ3+.
Which seats more passengers?
The PC-24 seats more in a typical charter layout: up to 8 against up to 6 for the Citation CJ3+.
Which costs more to buy, the Citation CJ3+ or the PC-24?
Pre-owned, the Citation CJ3+ sells for about $5.0 million to $5.2 million (October 2026) and the PC-24 for about $9.8 million to $12.5 million (2026-10). New, they listed at $8.6 million (2023) and $11.9 million (2024).
Which is easier to charter in Mexico?
6 Citation CJ3+ and 2 PC-24 are on the Mexican AFAC charter list today. Both charter at light jet rates; availability on your dates decides the price.
Citation CJ3+ vs PC-24 specifications
Verified figures, checked October 2026. Fleet counts from the AFAC air taxi permit records (checked 18 October 2026).
| Specification | Citation CJ3+ Cessna (Textron Aviation) | PC-24 Pilatus |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ||
| Range | 2,040 nm (3,778 km) (best) | 2,000 nm (3,704 km) |
| High-speed cruise | 416 kts | 440 kts (best) |
| Maximum speed | Mach 0.737 | Mach 0.74 (best) |
| Maximum altitude | 45,000 ft | 45,000 ft |
| Take-off distance | 3,180 ft | 3,090 ft (best) |
| Landing distance | 2,770 ft | 2,410 ft (best) |
| Cabin | ||
| Typical charter seats | 6 | 6 to 8 (best) |
| Maximum seats | 8 | 10 (best) |
| Cabin length | 15 ft 8 in (4.78 m) | 23 ft (7.01 m) (best) |
| Cabin width | 4 ft 10 in (1.47 m) | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) (best) |
| Cabin height | 4 ft 9 in (1.45 m) | 5 ft 1 in (1.55 m) (best) |
| Cabin volume | 286 cu ft | 501 cu ft (best) |
| Baggage | 65 cu ft | 90 cu ft, reachable in flight (best) |
| Cabin altitude | Not published | 8,000 ft at 45,000 ft |
| Engines and weights | ||
| Engines | 2 × Williams International FJ44-3A | 2 × Williams International FJ44-4A-QPM |
| Thrust per engine | 2,820 lbf | 3,420 lbf |
| Maximum take-off weight | 13,870 lb | 18,740 lb |
| Fuel capacity | 4,710 lb | 5,964 lb |
| Price and ownership | ||
| First delivered | 2004 | 2018 |
| In production | Yes | Yes |
| New price | $8.6M (2023) | $11.9M (2024) |
| Pre-owned price | $5.0M to $5.2M | $9.8M to $12.5M |
| Operating cost per hour | $2,983 | $3,631 |
| Charter fleet | ||
| On Mexico charter list | 6 aircraft (best) | 2 aircraft |
Gold marks the best figure in each row. Take-off distance: At maximum take-off weight, sea level. Cabin length: Manufacturers measure cabin length differently; volume is the fairer comparison. Operating cost per hour: As reported; some sources quote variable cost only, others include fixed costs. See the basis under each aircraft.
Both aircraft at a glance
Cessna Citation CJ3+
- Seats
- 6 (max 8)
- Range
- 2,040 nm
- Cabin
- 286 cu ft
- In production
- Yes
- Charter fleet
- 6 in Mexico
Mexican operators: Aerolíneas Ejecutivas, Aerovics, VIP Empresarial
Citation CJ3+ specs, interior and price →
Pilatus PC-24
- Seats
- 6 to 8 (max 10)
- Range
- 2,000 nm
- Cabin
- 501 cu ft
- In production
- Yes
- Charter fleet
- 2 in Mexico
Mexican operators: SOALA, Transportes Aéreos Pegaso
PC-24 specs, interior and price →Compare with other light jets
Questions, answered
Still deciding? A charter specialist will talk you through aircraft, airports and price, with no obligation.
Ask a specialistWhich flies further, the Citation CJ3+ or the PC-24?+
The Citation CJ3+ flies further: 2,040 nm against 2,000 nm for the PC-24.
Which has the bigger cabin, the Citation CJ3+ or the PC-24?+
The PC-24 has the bigger cabin: 501 cu ft against 286 cu ft for the Citation CJ3+.
Which is faster, the Citation CJ3+ or the PC-24?+
The PC-24 is faster at high-speed cruise: 440 kts against 416 kts for the Citation CJ3+.
Which seats more passengers?+
The PC-24 seats more in a typical charter layout: up to 8 against up to 6 for the Citation CJ3+.
Which costs more to buy, the Citation CJ3+ or the PC-24?+
Pre-owned, the Citation CJ3+ sells for about $5.0 million to $5.2 million (October 2026) and the PC-24 for about $9.8 million to $12.5 million (2026-10). New, they listed at $8.6 million (2023) and $11.9 million (2024).
Which is easier to charter in Mexico?+
6 Citation CJ3+ and 2 PC-24 are on the Mexican AFAC charter list today. Both charter at light jet rates; availability on your dates decides the price.
Where these numbers come from
- Aviation Safety Network: Cessna 525B CitationJet CJ3 occurrences
- Business Jet Traveler: Cessna Citation CJ3
- Cessna: Citation CJ4 Gen3 specifications (Textron Aviation, Oct 2026)
- AIN: Nomad gets London City Airport approval for CJ2+ and CJ3+ (Feb 2019)
- Textron Aviation news release: Cessna Citation CJ3 Gen3 achieves first flight (Jul 2026)
- Luxaviation: Cessna Citation CJ3 F-GSCR fleet specification (Mar 2020)
- AIN: Textron Aviation delivers 600th CJ3-series jet (Apr 2021)
- Airport Technology: Citation CJ3 business jet (Jul 2006)
- CRAFT: Cessna Citation CJ3+ ownership and operating costs (Oct 2026)
- BEA: Final report BEA2017-0698, serious incident to Cessna 525B Citation CJ3 LX-WEB, Annecy Meythet, 8 December 2017 (Jul 2019)
- Cessna: Citation CJ3 Gen3 specifications (Textron Aviation)
- EASA TCDS EASA.IM.A.078, Textron Aviation 525 series (Issue 19, May 2026)
- AIN: Textron Aviation unveils Citation CJ3 Gen2 (Oct 2023)
- AVweb: Cessna Citation CJ3 Gen2 enters service (Jan 2026)
- Wikipedia: Cessna CitationJet/M2
- NTSB: Aviation investigation final report WPR22LA353, Cessna 525B N528DV, Pasco, Washington, 20 September 2022 (Sep 2024)
- NTSB: Aviation investigation final report ERA23FA174, Cessna 525B N869AC, Gulf of Mexico, 30 March 2023 (Jul 2024)
- Airport Technology: Cessna CJ3+ business jet (May 2014)
- Textron Aviation news release: Cessna Citation CJ3 Gen2 achieves FAA type certification (Oct 2025)
- GlobalAir.com: 2006 Cessna Citation CJ3 S/N 525B-0118, N532LW, listing (Oct 2026)
- GlobalAir.com: Cessna Citation CJ3 aircraft for sale listings (Oct 2026)
- GlobalAir.com: Citation CJ3+ specifications (Operating Cost Report, October 2026)
- Controller: 2010 Cessna Citation CJ3 S/N 525B-0337, PR-VNA, listing (Oct 2026)
- Controller: 2012 Cessna Citation CJ3 S/N 525B-0377 listing (Oct 2026)
- Jet Advisors: Citation CJ3+ performance
- EASA: Emergency Airworthiness Directive 2023-0219-E, PC-24 rudder trim tab (Dec 2023)
- AvBuyer: Pilatus PC-24 vs Embraer Phenom 300E, Mike Chase (Dec 2023)
- Aviation Safety Network: Pilatus PC-24 occurrences
- Aviation and Defence Universe: Pilatus release, keen interest in the PC-24, order book reopens (May 2019)
- CRAFT: Pilatus PC-24 ownership and operating costs (Oct 2026)
- AIN: Pilatus refines PC-24 with new cabin and avionics features, Chad Trautvetter (Jul 2021)
- AAIB: Bulletin 2/2024, Pilatus PC-24 D-CMSL, near Liverpool, 9 December 2022 (Jan 2024)
- Pilatus Aircraft: PC-24 technical data (range conditions and cabin layouts)
- EASA TCDS EASA.A.594, Pilatus PC-24 (Issue 08, October 2023)
- Business Airport International: Pilatus introduces Gogo Galileo connectivity as factory option for PC-24 (Jul 2026)
- Wikipedia: Pilatus PC-24
- TSB Canada: Air transportation safety investigation A23P0139, Pilatus PC-24 C-FMHR, Kelowna (Nov 2023)
- Pilatus Aircraft: PC-24 certified for take-offs and landings on unpaved runways (Feb 2020)
- GlobalAir.com: New Pilatus PC-24 features increased range, payload (Oct 2023)
- Aviation Week: Aircraft Overview, Pilatus PC-24
- AircraftExchange: 2019 Pilatus PC-24 S/N 144, N144TA, listing (Oct 2026)
- GlobalAir.com: Pilatus PC-24 aircraft for sale listings (Oct 2026)
- Pilatus Aircraft: PC-24 overview
- West Air: 2023 Pilatus PC-24 S/N 302, N24X, spec sheet (Feb 2026)
- AircraftExchange: 2023 Pilatus PC-24 S/N 302, N24X, listing (Oct 2026)
- Jetaviva: Pilatus PC-24 S/N 109, N357ET, eBrochure (Jul 2022)
- AircraftExchange: 2022 Pilatus PC-24 S/N 260 listing (Oct 2026)
- Controller: 2024 Pilatus PC-24 S/N 335 listing (Oct 2026)
- PlaneSense: Your PC-24 light jet questions answered (Feb 2026)
- aeroTELEGRAPH: Pilatus 2025 results, 50 PC-24 delivered (March 2026)
- GlobalAir.com: Pilatus PC-24 specifications (Operating Cost Report, October 2026)
- GlobalAir.com: Pilatus PC-24 for sale, market summary (October 2026)
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