Citation Longitude Charter from Chicago
A Citation Longitude charter is the newest way to buy a super midsize cabin out of Chicago. The type entered service in 2019, which makes almost every airframe on the charter market young, consistently fitted and equipped with connectivity that works. It carries 3,500 nm of range at Mach 0.84, and typical market rates run $7,800–$9,500 per flight hour.
Set against its two direct rivals, the Longitude trades cabin width for modernity and reach. It is ten inches narrower inside than the Challenger and eight narrower than the G280, and it flies further and newer than either. For most Chicago itineraries the range advantage never gets used, which makes this a decision about cabin fit, connectivity and — more often than buyers expect — which aircraft is actually free on your dates.
What a Citation Longitude charter offers over its rivals
The clearest advantage is fleet age. An aircraft type that started deliveries in 2019 has no tired examples yet. Interiors are consistent, cabin technology is current, and standard high-speed connectivity on most tails. When you book an aircraft you will not see until it pulls onto the ramp, that consistency has a value that does not show up in any specification table.
The second advantage is reach. 3,500 nm covers every domestic pairing from Chicago with a wide margin, opens up most of the Caribbean and Central America, and makes non-stop transatlantic routings possible from the East Coast. If your travel pattern is entirely domestic, that margin buys you tolerance for headwinds and a full cabin rather than new destinations, which is still worth something on a January westbound.
The cabin measures 72 in high by 77 in wide across 25.2 ft, with a flat floor throughout and an enclosed, externally serviced lavatory aft. Seating is 9 in the double club, 12 in high-density layouts. Those cabin dimensions are identical in height and width to the Citation Latitude one class down, with several more feet of length; if you have flown a Latitude and liked it, you know what this cabin feels like across the shoulders.
Citation Longitude specifications
476 kts at Mach 0.84 makes this the second fastest aircraft in the three-way comparison on this page, and the 112 cu ft hold is more than the Challenger carries and slightly less than the G280. None of those gaps decides a trip on their own; taken together they describe an aircraft optimised for range and currency rather than for cross-section.
| Specification | Figure |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Textron Aviation (Cessna) |
| Passengers, typical charter layout | 9 (9 in the double club, 12 in high-density layouts) |
| Range, 4 passengers with IFR reserves | 3,500 nm |
| Typical cruise speed | 476 kts (Mach 0.84) |
| Certified ceiling | 45,000 ft |
| Cabin height | 72 in |
| Cabin width | 77 in |
| Cabin length | 25.2 ft |
| Baggage volume | 112 cu ft |
| Lavatory | Enclosed, externally serviced |
| Stand-up cabin | Yes |
| Cabin connectivity | Standard high-speed connectivity on most tails |
| First delivery of this variant | 2019 |
| Typical market hourly rate | $7,800–$9,500 per flight hour |
Cabin, connectivity and how the aircraft flies
Seats and the flat floor
Nine seats in a double club plus a divan or additional seating depending on fit, with twelve possible in high-density layouts that you will rarely see on a charter ramp. The floor is flat end to end, the aisle is usable in flight, and the seats track and swivel so a four-seat conference grouping is easy to set up. Cabin altitude is low for the class, which is the sort of specification nobody reads and everybody feels after four hours.
Connectivity that can be relied on
This is where the Longitude separates itself from older super midsize lift. Standard high-speed connectivity on most tails, and because the fleet is young, the installed hardware is current rather than a decade-old system limping along. If your trip is a working one — a board reading a deal document across four hours to the coast, or a team on a call — this is the type least likely to disappoint on that specific point.
Baggage and equipment
112 cu ft handles nine passengers with normal luggage, a golf group with hard cases, or a ski party with equipment. It is not a hold that takes bulky freight, and if your trip includes production gear or trade-show cases beyond a few pelicans, a heavy jet is the right conversation instead.
Typical Citation Longitude hourly rates from Chicago
The Longitude prices between the Challenger and the G280, close enough to both that hourly rate alone should not decide the booking. What moves a real quote is positioning: the super midsize fleet based within reasonable ferry distance of Chicago is smaller than the midsize fleet, so an aircraft that happens to be sitting at Midway or DuPage on your date can price better than a technically cheaper aircraft that has to come from Dallas.
Beyond the hourly figure, expect the standard components — positioning legs, landing and handling at both ends, crew duty and overnight costs, catering, any fuel surcharge and federal excise tax. On a multi-day itinerary the aircraft usually waits and you pay a daily minimum. The cost section sets out how each of those lines is calculated so you can read a quote rather than accept one.
| Aircraft | Typical hourly range | Range | First delivery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cessna Citation Longitude | $7,800–$9,500 | 3,500 nm | 2019 |
| Gulfstream G280 | $8,200–$9,800 | 3,600 nm | 2012 |
| Bombardier Challenger 300/350 | $7,600–$9,200 | 3,200 nm | 2004 |
| Super midsize class overall | $7,200–$9,800 | 3,000–3,700 nm | — |
Chicago routes where the Longitude fits
The western business routes are the natural use case. San Francisco at about 4h 05m and Los Angeles at about 3h 55m are non-stop with the cabin full and no seasonal caveats, which is the practical difference between this class and the midsize class rather than the twenty minutes of block time. Denver at 2h 15m and Aspen at 2h 25m are comfortable, and the aircraft's climb performance is useful on a hot-and-high summer departure out of Colorado.
Longer than that, the range starts to matter. From Chicago the Longitude reaches Hawaii, most of Central America and the length of the Caribbean without a stop, which is where the 3,500 nm figure stops being a specification and starts being an itinerary. Confirm any long overwater routing with the operator early, because crew duty limits often bind before fuel does.
| Route | Distance | Block time | Typical one-way band |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago to San Francisco | 1,590 nm | 4h 05m | $34,000–$43,000 |
| Chicago to Los Angeles | 1,516 nm | 3h 55m | $33,000–$41,000 |
| Chicago to Las Vegas | 1,275 nm | 3h 20m | $31,000–$39,000 |
| Chicago to Scottsdale | 1,280 nm | 3h 20m | $31,000–$39,500 |
| Chicago to Aspen | 869 nm | 2h 25m | $25,000–$32,000 |
| Chicago to Denver | 785 nm | 2h 15m | $22,000–$28,500 |
Longitude compared with the Challenger 300 and the G280
Against the Challenger 300, the trade is explicit: the Bombardier gives you ten more inches of cabin width for roughly $200 to $300 less per hour, and the Citation gives you 300 nm more range, a higher cruise Mach, a newer airframe and more dependable connectivity. Eight passengers who fly together often will usually vote for width. A buyer who values a current cabin and a working connection will not.
Against the Gulfstream G280 the two aircraft are genuinely close. The Gulfstream is eight inches wider, 100 nm longer legged and marginally faster; the Citation is newer as a type and typically a little cheaper per hour. Neither difference decides a domestic trip from Chicago, and buyers who insist there is an obvious winner are usually describing a preference rather than a specification.
Which is why the honest answer is that availability decides it more often than either specification. On a given Tuesday out of Chicago there may be one of the three within an easy positioning leg, and taking it is the right call. Give us the dates and headcount on a quote request and we will price whichever of the three is genuinely free, with the differences on the table.
| Cessna Citation Longitude | Bombardier Challenger 300/350 | Gulfstream G280 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cabin width | 77 in | 87 in | 85 in |
| Baggage | 112 cu ft | 106 cu ft | 120 cu ft |
| Range | 3,500 nm | 3,200 nm | 3,600 nm |
| Typical cruise | 476 kts | 470 kts | 482 kts |
| Typical hourly range | $7,800–$9,500 | $7,600–$9,200 | $8,200–$9,800 |
Frequently asked questions
How far can a Citation Longitude fly non-stop?
3,500 nm with four passengers and IFR reserves. From Chicago that covers every domestic destination with margin, plus Hawaii, most of Central America and the Caribbean. On a full cabin with baggage the practical figure is lower, so ask the operator to confirm the flight plans non-stop at your actual loaded weight rather than at a nominal payload.
How many passengers does a Citation Longitude seat?
Nine in the standard double club layout, with up to twelve in high-density configurations that are uncommon on charter aircraft. Eight is the comfortable working number on a four-hour western leg. Ask the operator to confirm the seat count and layout on the specific tail number offered, since fit varies between airframes even on a young type.
Is the Citation Longitude better than the Challenger 300?
Neither is better outright. The Longitude is newer, faster, longer legged and more reliably connected. The Challenger 300 has a cabin ten inches wider and usually costs less per hour. For eight passengers on a domestic route, the width tends to win; for a working flight with real range margin, the Citation does. Availability out of Chicago frequently settles it.
What does a Citation Longitude cost per flight hour?
A typical market range is $7,800–$9,500 per flight hour for Chicago-based lift, inside a super midsize class that runs $7,200–$9,800. That covers the aircraft only. A trip quote adds positioning, landing and handling, crew costs, catering, fuel surcharge and federal excise tax, and varies with date and availability.
Does the Citation Longitude have reliable Wi-Fi?
More reliably than most charter aircraft, because the type is young and high-speed connectivity is standard on most tails. It is still worth confirming the installed system and the data plan at quote stage, particularly for long westbound routings over sparsely served areas. Treat a stated requirement in writing as more useful than a verbal assurance.
Related pages
- Super midsize jet charterThe class overview: rates, range and which types actually fly from Chicago.
- Challenger 300 charterThe widest cabin in the class, usually at the lowest hourly rate.
- Gulfstream G280 charterThe longest range and fastest cruise of the three, at the top of the class range.
- Private jet hourly ratesClass-by-class hourly ranges and what a quote adds on top of them.
Further reading from the blog
Sources and further reading
- Cessna Citation Longitude — Textron Aviation publishes the Longitude's certified range, cabin dimensions and cruise performance.
- National Business Aviation Association — NBAA maintains the operational and safety standards that reputable Part 135 charter operators work to.
Get a quote for your flight
Send us the route, the date and the number of passengers. You will get real options with all-in pricing, the operator's certificate and safety rating, and the aircraft's actual tail number — not a stock photo and a starting-from price.