Cessna, a legendary American aircraft manufacturer headquartered in Wichita, Kansas (now part of Textron Aviation), has played a defining role in making private jet travel more accessible, versatile, and efficient. While the company is historically known for its piston and turboprop aircraft, its true transformation of business aviation began with the Citation jet series.

Launched in the late 1960s, the Citation family was designed to be smaller, more economical, and easier to operate than larger business jets of the time. The first model, the Citation I, flew in 1969 and entered service in 1972, offering short-field capability and operating costs that allowed smaller companies and entrepreneurs to embrace jet travel for the first time. This approach established Cessna as the pioneer of the light business jet segment, a category it continues to dominate.

The Citation Family Philosophy

Unlike competitors that pursued exclusively long-range luxury markets, Cessna focused on efficiency, versatility, and affordability. The Citation line ranges from very light jets (VLJs) to super-midsize and large-cabin aircraft, creating one of the most diverse product families in business aviation. Citations are renowned for their ability to access shorter runways, their straightforward handling, and their wide global support network.

Expanding Across Segments

The Citation family grew rapidly. The Citation II and III expanded range and capacity in the 1980s, while the Citation V, Ultra, and Encore became benchmarks in the light jet category. In the 1990s and 2000s, Cessna entered new territory with the Citation Excel, X, and Sovereign, offering midsize to transcontinental performance while retaining Citation simplicity and operating efficiency.

The Citation Mustang (2006) opened the door to very light jets, appealing to owner-operators, while the Citation X made headlines as one of the fastest business jets ever built, cruising near Mach 0.92. Today, the latest Citation Longitude and Latitude represent the super-midsize and midsize segments, combining range, advanced avionics, and spacious cabins with Cessna’s hallmark operating economics.

Global Reach and Customer Base

With more than 30 Citation models produced over five decades, Cessna has delivered over 8,000 jets, making the Citation family the most popular and widely operated fleet in business aviation history. Citations are used by corporations, governments, charter operators, air ambulances, and private individuals, reflecting their versatility.

The Future of Citation Jets

Now under Textron Aviation, the Citation brand continues to evolve with a strong focus on connectivity, passenger comfort, and efficiency. By balancing innovation with accessibility, Cessna has remained true to its founding mission: to make jet ownership and operation practical for a wide spectrum of users.