Cessna Citation XLS Gen2 vs Embraer Praetor 500
The Praetor 500 flies further: 3,340 nm against 1,750 nm for the Citation XLS. The Praetor 500 has the wider cabin: 2.08 m against 1.68 m for the Citation XLS. The Praetor 500 is faster at high-speed cruise: 466 kts against 441 kts for the Citation XLS.
Citation XLS or Praetor 500?
Which flies further, the Citation XLS or the Praetor 500?
The Praetor 500 flies further: 3,340 nm against 1,750 nm for the Citation XLS.
Which has the wider cabin, the Citation XLS or the Praetor 500?
The Praetor 500 has the wider cabin: 2.08 m against 1.68 m for the Citation XLS.
Which is faster, the Citation XLS or the Praetor 500?
The Praetor 500 is faster at high-speed cruise: 466 kts against 441 kts for the Citation XLS.
Which seats more passengers?
The Citation XLS seats more in a typical charter layout: up to 9 against up to 7 for the Praetor 500.
Which is easier to charter in the UAE?
0 Citation XLS and 0 Praetor 500 are on the Emirati GCAA charter list today. Both charter at midsize jet rates; availability on your dates decides the price.
Citation XLS vs Praetor 500 specifications
Verified figures, checked October 2026. Fleet counts from the our register of GCAA air operator certificate holders (16 October 2026).
| Specification | Citation XLS Cessna (Textron Aviation) | Praetor 500 Embraer |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ||
| Range | 1,750 nm (3,241 km) | 3,340 nm (6,186 km) (best) |
| High-speed cruise | 441 kts | 466 kts (best) |
| Maximum speed | Mach 0.752 | Mach 0.83 (best) |
| Maximum altitude | 45,000 ft | 45,000 ft |
| Take-off distance | 3,600 ft (best) | 4,222 ft |
| Landing distance | 3,180 ft | 2,086 ft (best) |
| Cabin | ||
| Typical charter seats | 6 to 9 (best) | 7 |
| Maximum seats | 12 (best) | 9 |
| Cabin length | 18 ft 6 in (5.64 m) | 24 ft 0 in (7.32 m), main seating area (best) |
| Cabin width | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) (best) |
| Cabin height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) in the dropped centre aisle | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) (best) |
| Baggage | 90 cu ft, reachable in flight | 150 cu ft, reachable in flight (best) |
| Cabin altitude | Not published | 5,800 ft at 45,000 ft |
| Engines and weights | ||
| Engines | 2 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PW545C | 2 × Honeywell HTF7500E |
| Thrust per engine | 4,119 lbf | 6,540 lbf |
| Maximum take-off weight | 20,200 lb | 37,567 lb |
| Fuel capacity | 6,740 lb | 13,050 lb |
| Price and ownership | ||
| First delivered | 2022 | 2019 |
| In production | No | Yes |
| New price | $15.5M (2022) | $18.4M (2025) |
| Operating cost per hour | $4,305 | $5,998 |
| Charter fleet | ||
| On the UAE charter list | 0 aircraft | 0 aircraft |
Gold marks the best figure in each row. Take-off distance: At maximum take-off weight, sea level. Cabin length: Manufacturers measure cabin length differently; volume is the fairer comparison. Operating cost per hour: As reported; some sources quote variable cost only, others include fixed costs. See the basis under each aircraft.
Both aircraft at a glance
Cessna Citation XLS Gen2
- Seats
- 6 to 9 (max 12)
- Range
- 1,750 nm
- Cabin
- 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
- In production
- No
- Charter fleet
- 0 in the UAE
Embraer Praetor 500
- Seats
- 7 (max 9)
- Range
- 3,340 nm
- Cabin
- 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
- In production
- Yes
- Charter fleet
- 0 in the UAE
Compare with other midsize jets
Questions, answered
Still deciding? A charter specialist will talk you through aircraft, airports and price, with no obligation.
Ask a specialistWhich flies further, the Citation XLS or the Praetor 500?+
The Praetor 500 flies further: 3,340 nm against 1,750 nm for the Citation XLS.
Which has the wider cabin, the Citation XLS or the Praetor 500?+
The Praetor 500 has the wider cabin: 2.08 m against 1.68 m for the Citation XLS.
Which is faster, the Citation XLS or the Praetor 500?+
The Praetor 500 is faster at high-speed cruise: 466 kts against 441 kts for the Citation XLS.
Which seats more passengers?+
The Citation XLS seats more in a typical charter layout: up to 9 against up to 7 for the Praetor 500.
Which is easier to charter in the UAE?+
0 Citation XLS and 0 Praetor 500 are on the Emirati GCAA charter list today. Both charter at midsize jet rates; availability on your dates decides the price.
Where these numbers come from
- Business Jet Traveler: Cessna XLS Gen2, Mark Huber (2022)
- GlobalAir.com: Cessna Citation XLS+ specifications and operating cost (2026)
- AVweb: Textron introduces Gen2 Citation M2, XLS (2021)
- Aviation Week: Aircraft Overview, Textron Aviation Cessna Citation 560XL Series (2026)
- Textron Aviation news release: Cessna Citation XLS Gen2 achieves FAA certification, begins deliveries (2022)
- AIN: Textron Aviation's Citation Ascend gets FAA nod (2025)
- Aviation Week: Aircraft Overview, Embraer's Praetor 500 and Praetor 600 (2026)
- Business Jet Traveler: Embraer Executive Jets Praetor 500 (2023)
- Airport Technology: Embraer Praetor 500 business jet
- AIN: Praetor 500 exceeds certification goals (2019)
- Aviation Week: 20/Twenty, long prospects for the Praetor 500 and 600, Bill Carey (2023)
- AIN: Embraer's Q2 deliveries strongest in 16 years (2026)
- GlobalAir.com: Embraer Praetor 500 specifications and operating cost (2026)
- AIN: Embraer kicks off Flexjet order with Praetor 500 delivery (2019)
Fly the Citation XLS or the Praetor 500.
Tell us the route and dates. We check both with certified operators and show you the price of each.