Cessna · Light jet
Citation CJ3
Widely called Cessna's best-ever light jet — the CJ line at its sweet spot.
The complete light jet — six aboard, trans-Tasman legs, and the line's finest balance.
Ask working pilots which CJ got the balance right and the answer is usually this one. The CJ3 stretched the line again — nearly sixteen feet of cabin — and paired FADEC FJ44-3A engines with Pro Line 21 avionics into an aircraft Aviation Week assessed under the headline 'Cessna's best-ever light jet'. Robb Report simply called it the best light jet, twice.
With 1,875 nautical miles of range it crosses the Tasman and reaches Queenstown from Sydney, seats six in genuine comfort with baggage for all of them, and remains single-pilot certified — the whole light-jet brief, answered in one airframe. More than six hundred CJ3-series aircraft have been delivered.
The cabin
Inside the Citation CJ3
Cabin altitude
An 8,000 ft cabin at 45,000 ft
What it’s for
Flown best for
Trans-Tasman, lightly
Auckland and Queenstown from the east coast — the light jet that genuinely crosses.
The six-seat standard
A full club plus two, with luggage — the configuration most charters actually need.
Regional mastery
3,180 feet of runway suffices — the strips airlines abandoned stay open to you.
Range & popular routes
Where it takes you
- Sydney Aucklandapprox. 2h 55m1,165 nm
- Sydney Queenstownapprox. 2h 45m1,045 nm
- Melbourne Cairnsapprox. 3h 10m1,240 nm
Bar length shows each sector’s distance against the full 1,875 nm range.
The light jet that makes the Tasman a genuine option — daylight and winds planned per sector.
Specifications
The detail
Good to know
Frequently asked
Can a CJ3 cross the Tasman?
Yes — Sydney–Auckland at about 1,165 nautical miles and Sydney–Queenstown at roughly 1,045 both sit inside its 1,875-nautical-mile range with reserves, subject to the alpine-daylight planning Queenstown always demands.
Why is the CJ3 so highly regarded?
It is the CJ line at its equilibrium — enough cabin for six with real baggage, FADEC engines, docile single-pilot manners and honest short-field performance, with none of the weight or cost the class above carries. The trade press has called it Cessna's best-ever light jet.
How much does a CJ3 cost to charter?
Individually quoted as always — and with a deep fleet flying, the CJ3 is often the sharpest figure for a six-seat mission. A firm, all-inclusive quote returns within the hour.
Charter
Charter the Citation CJ3
Tell us your route and dates, and we’ll confirm availability and an all-in price — for this aircraft or the ideal alternative for your journey.
Request a charterOr call +61 1800 538 729 — most enquiries answered within the hour.
- 01
Tell us the journey
Route, dates, passengers and any preferences — in a single message or call.
- 02
We return options
Tailored aircraft and a clear, all-in price — usually within the hour.
- 03
Fly privately
Arrive minutes before departure; we handle every detail, end to end.
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