Tried & Tested: Cessna Citation CJ2

In this month’s ‘Smart: Tried and Tested’ we’re taking a look at the Cessna Citation CJ2, which is considered to be the most economical light jet aircraft.

The Cessna Citation Jet 2 (known as the CJ2) is the updated version of the popular Cessna Citation Jet 1 (CJ1). It is our preferred aircraft for short business meeting trips. The aircraft is renowned for being quiet, enabling a peaceful environment for working onboard or for mid-flight business conversations between colleagues.

The Citation CJ2 took its first flight on 27th April 1999 and received its FAA certification in 2000. It is powered by a pair of Williams FJ44-2C turbofan engines, each delivering 2,400 pounds of thrust. These efficient engines help the aircraft reach a cruise speed of around 418 knots (480 mph / 770 km/h) and climb effortlessly to its maximum operating altitude of 45,000 feet.

The CJ2 is typically configured to carry up to six passengers in a standard executive configuration (club-four seating, plus two forward-facing seats). Some configurations do include a seventh seat.

The CJ2 can fly non-stop for up to two hours and 30 minutes, with a range of 1,613 nautical miles (1,857 miles / 2,989 km). It can comfortably handle non-stop routes like London to Rome, London to Oslo, or London to Malaga—making it ideal for continental business travel.

The overall length of the plane is 47ft 8in (14.53m), and it is 13ft 8in (4.17m) tall. The height inside the cabin is 4ft 8in (1.42m), with a width of 4ft 9in (1.45m), and the wingspan is 49ft 1 in (15.19m).

Highlights include plentiful power outlets for business devices, a refreshment centre with coffee station and chilled beverages, an ultra-quiet, air-conditioned and fully pressurised cabin designed for in-flight focus and conversation, spacious all-leather reclining seats in a club configuration, stowable executive tables for laptops or dining, generous natural light through large windows, LED cabin lighting for a modern ambience, and a fully enclosed washroom with a private toilet and optional belted seat for an additional passenger.

For its size, the CJ2 offers generous luggage capacity—a full 74 cubic feet of combined internal and external baggage space, accommodating 5–7 suitcases plus carry-ons, garment bags, and laptop cases. It’s the perfect fit for executives traveling with presentation kits or compact trade equipment.

James Gregory, Smart’s Head of VIP Charter, said: “The Citation CJ2 is the ultimate tool for modern business travel—quiet, fast, and remarkably efficient. It offers the perfect balance between performance and economy, allowing executives to move between key European cities with the speed and privacy they need, without paying for more jet than they’ll use. For short to mid-range business missions, nothing delivers value quite like the CJ2.”