Cessna Citation III
Midsize Jet
Cessna

Cessna Citation III

$ 3,943
Variable Cost/hr
2000
Range (NM)
425
Cruise (kts)
Estimated Annual Budget
$1,744,263
Based on 325 flight hours per year

Aircraft Specifications

Seating
2 / 8
Crew / Passengers
Range (Full)
2000 NM
2301.60 SM
Normal Cruise
425 kts
489 mph
Avg. Pre-Owned
$ 1,039,833
Cost Per NM
$ 9.15
Fuel Burn
262 gal/hr
Cabin Height
5' 8"
Cabin Width
5' 6"
Cabin Length
18' 4"
Interior Volume
577 ftยณ
Takeoff Distance
5600 ft
Landing Distance
2800 ft

Sample Budget Comparison

Annual Owner Hours 200 hours/year 325 hours/year
Mileage85,000 NM138,125 NM
Fuel Cost$ 327,500$ 532,188
Total Fixed Cost$ 462,950$ 462,950
Total Variable Cost$ 788,500$ 1,281,313
Total Hourly Cost$ 6,257$ 5,367

About This Aircraft

The Cessna Citation III has a variable operating cost of $3,655 per hour. It provides a range of 1,800 nautical miles and cruises at a normal speed of 431 knots (496 mph), with an average fuel burn of 262 gallons per hour. The cabin of the Citation III measures 5'8" high, 5'6" wide, and 18'4" long, offering 577 cubic feet of interior space. Designed to accommodate up to 8-9 passengers, the spacious and comfortable layout is ideal for both business and leisure travel. Requiring 5,600 feet for takeoff and 2,800 feet for landing, the Citation III is well-suited for medium-range missions while providing access to a wide range of airports.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does it cost to operate a Cessna Citation III per hour?
The Cessna Citation III has a variable operating cost of $ 3,943. This includes fuel burn of approximately 262 gallons per hour, maintenance reserves, and other variable expenses. The total hourly cost โ€” including fixed costs โ€” ranges from $ 5,367/hr at 325 annual hours to $ 6,257/hr at 200 annual hours.
What is the annual budget to own and operate a Cessna Citation III?
The estimated annual budget for a Cessna Citation III is $1,744,263 based on 325 flight hours per year. This includes fixed costs and variable costs for fuel, maintenance, and landing fees.
What is the range of the Cessna Citation III?
The Cessna Citation III has a maximum range of 2000 NM (2302 SM) with a full passenger load. This enables nonstop flights from New York to Los Angeles, or London to Dubai, making it a capable coast-to-coast and transatlantic performer in the midsize jet category.
What is the average pre-owned price of a Cessna Citation III?
The average pre-owned market price for a Cessna Citation III is approximately $ 1,039,833. Actual pricing varies based on airframe hours, engine program enrollment (JSSI, MSP Gold, or ESP), maintenance status, avionics upgrades, connectivity (Gogo AVANCE, Ka-band, Starlink), and cabin condition. AviaCost provides real-time market analysis to help evaluate individual aircraft.
How does the Cessna Citation III compare to other midsize jets?
The Cessna Citation III competes with other aircraft in the Midsize Jet segment. Its $ 3,943/hr variable cost is competitive in the segment, and it offers a particularly spacious cabin (5' 8" high ร— 5' 6" wide ร— 18' 4" long). AviaCost lets you compare up to 5 aircraft side-by-side across 12 cost calculators to find the best fit for your mission profile and budget.
What cabin dimensions does the Cessna Citation III offer?
The Cessna Citation III cabin measures 5' 8" high ร— 5' 6" wide ร— 18' 4" long, with a total interior volume of 577 cubic feet. It seats up to 8 passengers in a typical configuration with a 2-crew cockpit, and requires 5600 feet of runway for takeoff and 2800 feet for landing.

What Aviation Professionals Are Saying

โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…
"The data accuracy is exceptional. We cross-referenced AviaCost's operating cost figures against our actual flight department financials and the numbers were within 2โ€“3% across every line item. It's the only tool I trust for client-facing proposals."
JM
James M.
Director of Aviation, Family Office
Data Accuracy
โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…
"I reached out on a Sunday with a question about depreciation modeling and had a response within the hour. The team clearly understands business aviation โ€” not just the software. That level of support is rare and invaluable for our brokerage."
RP
Rachel P.
Senior Broker, Aircraft Sales & Acquisitions
Customer Support
โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…
"We had our entire advisory team onboarded in under 30 minutes. The interface is so intuitive that even our analysts who've never used aviation cost tools were pulling comps and generating branded PDFs within their first session."
DK
David K.
Managing Director, Aviation Advisory Group
User Friendly
Pricing

Choose your AviaCost plan

Aviation Intelligence Platform โ€” Ownership, Fractional & Flight Intelligence in one platform. Free 3-day trial included with Monthly, Annual & Core plans.

Monthly
$195
per month ยท no commitment
Full platform access, month to month. Ideal for occasional use or trying before committing annually.
  • Ownership modeling
  • Trip cost analysis
  • Full aircraft database
  • Unlimited reports
Start Plan
Annual
$1,895
per year ยท save vs. monthly
Everything in Monthly plus advanced modeling tools for serious operators, brokers, and consultants.
  • Everything in Monthly
  • Advanced ownership modeling
  • Charter revenue mode
  • Branded PDF reports
Start Plan
Fractional
$995
per year ยท single user
Purpose-built for fractional ownership analysis โ€” ideal for advisors and consultants evaluating program options.
  • Fractional program analysis
  • Share cost modeling
  • NetJets / Flexjet comparison
  • Single user access
Start Plan
๐Ÿ”’ SSL Encrypted
๐Ÿ’ณ Powered by Stripe
โœ• Cancel Anytime
๐Ÿ• 3-Day Free Trial