Cessna Citation XLS Gen2 vs Learjet 45 / 45XR
The Learjet 45XR flies further: 1,830 nm against 1,750 nm for the Citation XLS. The Citation XLS has the wider cabin: 1.68 m against 1.55 m for the Learjet 45XR. The Learjet 45XR is faster at high-speed cruise: 448 kts against 441 kts for the Citation XLS.
Citation XLS or Learjet 45XR?
Which flies further, the Citation XLS or the Learjet 45XR?
The Learjet 45XR flies further: 1,830 nm against 1,750 nm for the Citation XLS.
Which has the wider cabin, the Citation XLS or the Learjet 45XR?
The Citation XLS has the wider cabin: 1.68 m against 1.55 m for the Learjet 45XR.
Which is faster, the Citation XLS or the Learjet 45XR?
The Learjet 45XR is faster at high-speed cruise: 448 kts against 441 kts for the Citation XLS.
Which seats more passengers?
They are level at up to 9.
Which costs more to buy, the Citation XLS or the Learjet 45XR?
Pre-owned, the Citation XLS sells for about $6.5 million to $8.4 million (October 2026) and the Learjet 45XR for about $3.6 million to $4.0 million (November 2026). New, they listed at $15.5 million (2022) and $13 million (2003).
Which is easier to charter in the US?
284 Citation XLS and 93 Learjet 45XR are on the US Part 135 charter list today. Both charter at midsize jet rates; availability on your dates decides the price.
Citation XLS vs Learjet 45XR specifications
Verified figures, checked October 2026. Fleet counts from the FAA Part 135 list (2 September 2026).
| Specification | Citation XLS Cessna (Textron Aviation) | Learjet 45XR Bombardier (Learjet) |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ||
| Range | 1,750 nm (3,241 km) | 1,830 nm (3,389 km) (best) |
| High-speed cruise | 441 kts | 448 kts (best) |
| Long-range cruise | Not published | 437 kts |
| Maximum speed | Mach 0.752 | Mach 0.81 (best) |
| Maximum altitude | 45,000 ft | 51,000 ft (best) |
| Take-off distance | 3,600 ft (best) | 5,040 ft |
| Landing distance | 3,180 ft | 2,371 ft (best) |
| Cabin | ||
| Typical charter seats | 6 to 9 | 8 to 9 |
| Maximum seats | 12 (best) | 9 |
| Cabin zones | Not published | 2 |
| Cabin length | 18 ft 6 in (5.64 m) | 19 ft 9 in (6.02 m) (best) |
| Cabin width | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) (best) | 5 ft 1 in (1.55 m) |
| Cabin height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) in the dropped centre aisle (best) | 4 ft 11 in (1.50 m) |
| Cabin volume | Not published | 410 cu ft |
| Baggage | 90 cu ft (best) | 65 cu ft |
| Engines and weights | ||
| Engines | 2 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PW545C | 2 × Honeywell TFE731-20BR |
| Thrust per engine | 4,119 lbf | 3,500 lbf |
| Maximum take-off weight | 20,200 lb | 21,500 lb |
| Fuel capacity | 6,740 lb | 6,062 lb |
| Price and ownership | ||
| First delivered | 2022 | 1998 |
| In production | No | No |
| New price | $15.5M (2022) | $13M (2003) |
| Pre-owned price | $6.5M to $8.4M | $3.6M to $4.0M |
| Operating cost per hour | $4,305 | $6,091 |
| Charter fleet | ||
| On the US charter list | 284 aircraft (best) | 93 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
- 284 in the US
US operators: Exclusive Jets, NetJets Aviation, Jet Linx Aviation
Citation XLS specs, interior and price →
Learjet 45 / 45XR
- Seats
- 8 to 9 (max 9)
- Range
- 1,830 nm
- Cabin
- 410 cu ft
- In production
- No
- Charter fleet
- 93 in the US
US operators: Medway Air Ambulance, Aero Air, Kalitta Charters
Learjet 45XR specs, interior and price →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 Learjet 45XR?+
The Learjet 45XR flies further: 1,830 nm against 1,750 nm for the Citation XLS.
Which has the wider cabin, the Citation XLS or the Learjet 45XR?+
The Citation XLS has the wider cabin: 1.68 m against 1.55 m for the Learjet 45XR.
Which is faster, the Citation XLS or the Learjet 45XR?+
The Learjet 45XR is faster at high-speed cruise: 448 kts against 441 kts for the Citation XLS.
Which seats more passengers?+
They are level at up to 9.
Which costs more to buy, the Citation XLS or the Learjet 45XR?+
Pre-owned, the Citation XLS sells for about $6.5 million to $8.4 million (October 2026) and the Learjet 45XR for about $3.6 million to $4.0 million (November 2026). New, they listed at $15.5 million (2022) and $13 million (2003).
Which is easier to charter in the US?+
284 Citation XLS and 93 Learjet 45XR are on the US Part 135 charter list today. Both charter at midsize jet rates; availability on your dates decides the price.
Where these numbers come from
- Aviation Week: Aircraft Overview, Textron Aviation Cessna Citation 560XL Series (2026)
- AvBuyer: Embraer Praetor 500 vs Cessna Citation XLS+, Mike Chase (Sep 2021)
- Aviation Safety Network: Cessna 560XL Citation Excel, XLS and XLS+ occurrences
- Business Jet Traveler: Cessna XLS Gen2, Mark Huber (2022)
- Textron Aviation news release: Cessna Citation XLS Gen2 achieves FAA certification, begins deliveries (2022)
- CRAFT: Cessna Citation XLS ownership and operating costs (Oct 2026)
- NTSB: Aviation accident final report ANC08LA059, Cessna 560XL N590AK, Port Heiden, Alaska, 30 April 2008
- Wikipedia: Cessna Citation Excel
- GlobalAir.com: Cessna Citation XLS+ specifications and operating cost (2026)
- AVweb: Textron introduces Gen2 Citation M2, XLS (2021)
- CENIPA: Final Report A-134/CENIPA/2014, Cessna 560XLS+ PR-AFA, Santos, 13 August 2014 (Feb 2016)
- NTSB: Aviation accident final report ERA21LA296, Cessna 560XL N46CF, Reading, Pennsylvania, 21 July 2021
- AircraftExchange: 2022 Cessna Citation XLS Gen2 S/N 560-6333, N553PK, listing (Oct 2026)
- Jetcraft: Citation XLS+ overview, 2008 to present (Feb 2019)
- GlobalAir.com: Cessna Citation XLS+ aircraft for sale listings (Oct 2026)
- Guardian Jet: 2009 Cessna Citation XLS+ S/N 560-6041, N100U, specification sheet (Sep 2015)
- AircraftExchange: 2009 Cessna Citation XLS+ S/N 560-6034, N634BE, listing (Oct 2026)
- GlobalAir.com: 2024 Cessna Citation XLS+ S/N 560-6357, N831GL, listing (Oct 2026)
- VanAllen: 2012 Cessna Citation XLS+ S/N 560-6120, N224JW, sales sheet (Apr 2021)
- AIN: Textron Aviation's Citation Ascend gets FAA nod (2025)
- Aviation Safety Network: Learjet 45 (LJ45) occurrences, 55 listed (Nov 2026)
- AOPA Pilot: Quick look, Bombardier Learjet 45 (Nov 2013): first flight 7 October 1995, FAA certification September 1997, initial deliveries mid 1998
- GlobalAir: Learjet 40XR specifications (Nov 2026): 6 passengers, MTOW 21,000 lb, normal range 1,778 nm, cabin 17 ft 8 in long, 5 ft 1 in wide, 4 ft 11 in tall, 363 cu ft, balanced field length 4,680 ft
- Wikipedia: Learjet 45
- AircraftExchange: 2008 Bombardier Learjet 45XR N379LJ S/N 45-0379 listing (2026): 8 seats plus aft belted lavatory, forward and aft four-seat executive clubs with fold-out tables, forward galley with ice drawers and hot coffee container
- CRAFT: Bombardier Learjet 45XR ownership and operating costs (Oct 2026): $6,091 per flight hour at 200 hours a year, annual total $1,218,224
- Jetcraft: Learjet 45XR overview, 2003 to 2012 (Feb 2015): cabin volume 410 cu ft
- GlobalAir: Learjet 45 XR specifications (Nov 2026): internal baggage 15 cu ft, external baggage 50 cu ft; CRAFT gives 65 cu ft in all
- EASA: Type Certificate Data Sheet EASA.IM.A.020 Learjet 45, Issue 18 (Aug 2026): FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet T00008WI; Learjet 45 FAA certification 22 September 1997
- Guardian Jet via GlobalAir: 2008 Learjet 45XR S/N 45-349 for sale (2026): nine passengers including aft belted lavatory seat, double club, forward refreshment center, four single seats and two console tables in each cabin, GoGo Avance L5
- Elliott Jets: 2011 Learjet 45XR N451A S/N 45-0413 (2026): eight passengers, double club with aft belted lavatory for a ninth passenger, five 110 volt outlets, Airshow 4000, Gogo Avance L5
- Duncan Aviation: 2005 Learjet 45XR N22CT S/N 283 (2026): eight captain's chairs in two clubs, belted lavatory with flushing toilet, sink and two pocket doors, galley with microwave, heated coffee pot and two ice bins, 66 cu ft aft baggage
- GlobalAir: Learjet 45 XR for sale (1 Nov 2026): 9 listed, priced aircraft $3,595,000 to $3,995,000
- Aviation Trader: 2007 Learjet 45XR N45LX S/N 45-332 (2026): 8 executive seats plus belted lavatory, Iridium ICS-200 phone
- Deccan Herald: Low visibility, operational issues cited in AAIB report on Baramati plane crash (Feb 2026): Learjet 45XR VT-SSK, 28 January 2026, five killed
- Aviation Safety Network: Learjet 45 XC-VMC, Mexico City, 4 November 2008 (DGAC Mexico investigation)
- AIN: Bombardier delivers final production Learjet (Mar 2022): end of production announced February 2021, final Learjet 75 delivered 28 March 2022
- NTSB record IAD99FA008 via accidents.app: Learjet 45 N454LJ, Wallops Island, Virginia, 27 October 1998
- GlobalAir: 2004 Learjet 45 S/N 45-260 XB-RJF for sale (2026): $2,495,000, nine seats in a double club with a belted lavatory
- Aviation Trader: 1999 Learjet 45 S/N 45-009 N395WB for sale (2026): $2,295,000, 8 seats, forward galley
- AIN: Final report, wake turbulence downed Mexican Learjet 45 (Nov 2009): DGAC Mexico, 4.15 nm behind a Boeing 767 against 5 nm required
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