The Citation CJ1 is the aircraft most Los Angeles trips land on when four or five people need a private departure and the flight is under three hours. Out of Van Nuys it covers Las Vegas, NV, Palm Springs and the Bay Area with room to spare, and it does that at the bottom end of the jet market rather than the top.
Cessna built the CJ1 as the first step up from the original CitationJet, with a single-pilot certification, two Williams FJ44 turbofans and a flat-floor cabin for five or six. It cruises at 389 knots and carries 1,300 nautical miles of range, which is the number that decides most of its Southern California work. Every Cessna Citation CJ1 we arrange flies with an operator certificated under FAR Part 135, the FAA rules for on-demand, for-hire charter.
Performance and Cabin
- Category: Entry-Level Jet
- Manufacturer: Cessna (Textron Aviation)
- Year introduced: 1999-2006
- Seating: 5 to 6
- Crew: 1 to 2
- Range: 1,300 nautical miles
- Cruise speed: 389 knots
- Service ceiling: 41,000 feet
- Length: 42.6 feet
- Wingspan: 46.9 feet
- Height: 13.6 feet
- Baggage volume: 51 cubic feet
- Lavatory: Belted
Why the Cessna Citation CJ1 Fits Los Angeles
Van Nuys is the practical home field for this size of jet, and its 8,001-foot runway takes the CJ1 without the trip becoming a planning exercise. Departures after about 10pm run into the airport’s jet noise curfew for louder aircraft, so a late Los Angeles push is worth raising with us early rather than on the day.
Santa Monica is the other Westside option clients ask about. Its runway was shortened to 3,500 feet in 2017 and the airport is scheduled to close at the end of 2028 under an FAA consent decree, so we treat it as a useful near-term convenience rather than something to build a habit around. Whether a specific CJ1 can work it is the operator’s call on the day, against weight, temperature and wind.
The routes this aircraft actually flies from Los Angeles are the short ones: Las Vegas, NV at roughly 45 to 55 minutes, Palm Springs for a desert weekend, Napa, CA for wine country, and Santa Barbara. Los Cabos, Mexico is inside its range but it is a cross-border trip, so customs and the return-leg paperwork get planned in from the start.
Gallery
Vetting Behind Every Trip
Every operator, aircraft, and crew goes through our internal due diligence before we present any options. Our internal standards meet or exceed what the FAA requires:
- FAR Part 135 charter operators for traditional private aircraft, or FAR Part 121 for airliner-size and group trips (or the foreign equivalent on international legs)
- Operator subscription to Wyvern and ARGUS reviewed where the operator participates; reports may be provided on request.
- Pilot experience and operator incident history reviewed before we recommend an aircraft.
- Fewer than 60 brokers worldwide hold Premium Wyvern Broker Member status, and Air Charter Advisors is one of them.
Charter Pricing Reference
Industry hourly rates for the Cessna Citation CJ1 run $2,800 to $3,800 per hour as of 7/2026. Actual quotes vary by operator, routing, positioning, and date.
On a Los Angeles to Las Vegas, NV round trip the CJ1 usually bills around two flight hours plus any repositioning, which is what makes it hold up against a light jet on that particular pairing.
Other Entry-Level Jets Available
- Cessna Citation M2
- Cessna Citation Mustang CE-510
- Cirrus Vision Jet SF50
- Eclipse 500
- Embraer Phenom 100
- Honda HA-420 HondaJet
The full entry-level jets category page lists every entry-level jet we arrange for Los Angeles departures.
Contact
For a quote on a Cessna Citation CJ1 charter in or out of Los Angeles, call +1 (888) 987-5387 or head to our contact page. For the vetting work behind every trip, see our safety page. To browse cross-category options for the same trip, visit the aircraft directory.
The hourly rates provided are estimates based on 2026 market data and are for informational purposes only. These figures are subject to change and do not constitute a final offer. Final pricing is dynamic and depends on real-time factors including, but not limited to, specific itinerary requirements, aircraft positioning (“ferry” fees), fuel price volatility, and current market availability. These estimates exclude all applicable taxes, de-icing, landing and handling fees, special event fees, international surcharges, overnight crew expenses, and premium catering. Please contact Air Charter Advisors directly for a firm, all-inclusive quote tailored to your specific travel needs.