The Citation XLS is the most chartered midsize jet in the world and the aircraft that answers more Los Angeles requests than any other in this category. Stand-up cabin, short-field manners inherited from the Citation line, 441 knots and eight seats.
Cessna built the Excel by putting the Citation X’s stand-up fuselage on the Citation V’s wing, then improved it through the XLS and XLS+ with Pratt and Whitney PW545 engines and updated avionics. Seven to eight seats, 441 knots and 1,858 nautical miles of range. Every Cessna Citation Excel / XLS we arrange flies with an operator certificated under FAR Part 135, the FAA rules for on-demand, for-hire charter.
Performance and Cabin
- Category: Midsize Jet
- Manufacturer: Cessna (Textron Aviation)
- Year introduced: 1998
- Seating: 7 to 8
- Crew: 2
- Range: 1,858 nautical miles
- Cruise speed: 441 knots
- Service ceiling: 45,000 feet
- Length: 52.5 feet
- Wingspan: 56.3 feet
- Height: 17.2 feet
- Baggage volume: 90 cubic feet
- Lavatory: Enclosed
Why the Cessna Citation Excel / XLS Fits Los Angeles
This aircraft gets into airports that most midsize jets treat carefully, which around Los Angeles means Santa Barbara, Camarillo and the shorter regional fields stay available rather than becoming a Van Nuys-plus-a-drive compromise. What a specific tail can do on the day is the operator’s call against weight and weather.
The stand-up cabin is the step up that clients feel immediately after a light jet. On a Los Angeles to Aspen, CO or Los Angeles to Dallas leg, being able to walk to the enclosed lavatory changes a three-hour flight materially.
Fleet depth again matters more than any specification. During awards season between January and March, when Van Nuys and Hollywood Burbank get picked clean, the XLS is usually the last midsize aircraft with genuine availability.
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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 Excel / XLS run $4,500 to $5,800 per hour as of 7/2026. Actual quotes vary by operator, routing, positioning, and date.
The XLS quotes at the entry point of the midsize band, and for a Los Angeles group of eight it is regularly the cheapest stand-up cabin available.
Other Midsize Jets Available
- Cessna Citation III
- Cessna Citation VII
- Embraer Legacy 450
- Falcon 20
- Gulfstream G100 / G150 / IAI Astra SPX
- Hawker 750
The full midsize jets category page lists every midsize jet we arrange for Los Angeles departures.
Contact
For a quote on a Cessna Citation Excel / XLS 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.