Buyers Guide To The Cessna Citation XLS / XLS+
This guide covers a Buyer’s Guide to Purchasing a Cessna Citation XLS / XLS+ Aircraft.
The Cessna Citation XLS and XLS+ have a rich history.
The Citation XLS, the second installment in Cessna’s Excel series of medium-sized jets, arrived after the Citation Excel. Deliveries of the first Citation XLS began in 2003 and production continued until 2008. This was succeeded by the XLS+, which boasted enhancements primarily geared towards enhancing the pilot’s experience, such as upgraded engines and avionics.
Considering the purchase of a Cessna Citation XLS or Citation CLS+? Take a look at the specifications listed below.
Both the XLS and XLS+ models share several key measurements. They both measure 52.6 feet in length and 17.2 feet in height, with a wingspan of 56.4 feet. The cabin dimensions for these jets are also identical, at 5.7 feet high, 18.6 feet long, and 5.5 feet wide. Additionally, both are equipped to comfortably accommodate eight passengers and two crew members as standard seating.
The XLS boasts an improved glass Honeywell Primus 1000 EFIS avionics suite in its cockpit. Meanwhile, the XLS+ takes it a step further with the Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 system, equipped with four illuminated screens.
The XLS utilizes dual Pratt & Whitney PW545B engines, each generating 3,991lbs of thrust. This enables a standard cruising velocity of 422kts and a top distance of 1,841nm. In comparison, the XLS+ boasts upgraded PW545C engines, elevating its typical cruising speed to 429kts and extending its maximum range to 1,979 nm.
Both aircraft can reach a maximum altitude of 45,000ft.
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Cessna Citation XLS / XLS+ Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Length | 52.5 ft (16.00 m) |
| Wingspan | 56.3 ft (17.16 m) |
| Height | 17.2 ft (5.23 m) |
| Cabin Length | 18.5 ft (5.64 m) |
| Cabin Width | 5.6 ft (1.70 m) |
| Cabin Height | 5.7 ft (1.73 m) |
| Max Take-Off Weight (MTOW) | 20,200 lb (9,163 kg) |
| Max Range | 2,100 nm (3,889 km) |
| Max Cruise Speed | 441 ktas |
| Max Altitude (Ceiling) | 45,000 ft |
| Engines | 2x Pratt & Whitney Canada PW545C turbofan |
| Typical Passenger Capacity | 8–9 |
| Baggage Volume | 80 cu ft (2.27 m³) |
Citation XLS / XLS+ Ownership Costs
The Citation XLS and XLS+ are mid-size jets that operate at costs most owners find predictable and manageable relative to the cabin and range they deliver.
Annual fixed costs for a professionally crewed XLS+ are typically £400,000–£550,000, comprising two pilots, hull insurance, hangarage, and Cessna service plan subscriptions. The PW545C engines are covered most efficiently under Pratt & Whitney’s Engine Maintenance Plan (EMP), which converts engine reserves from a variable to a fixed cost — strongly recommended for charter operators and those flying more than 400 hours per year.
Hourly variable costs (fuel, engine reserves, maintenance consumables) run from approximately £1,400 to £1,900. Fuel burn on the PW545C is around 170–190 US gallons per hour combined at long-range cruise. The XLS+ introduced aerodynamic fairings that modestly improved efficiency over the base XLS.
Scheduled airframe maintenance follows Cessna’s phased inspection structure with significant checks at 800-hour and 4,800-hour intervals. Annual inspection costs typically fall between £50,000 and £90,000 for a well-maintained example. Avionics upgrades — particularly ADS-B compliance retrofits — have been completed on nearly all pre-2020 airframes, removing this concern for buyers of recent pre-owned examples.
Citation XLS / XLS+ Market Position and Resale Value
The Citation XLS and XLS+ represent the most popular mid-size jet segment in North America and enjoy strong demand across European charter markets. The combination of stand-up cabin, transatlantic-adjacent range, and proven Cessna support infrastructure makes the type a default consideration for operators in this class.
Pre-owned XLS values are well-established: late-model XLS+ examples (2012–2018) trade between £4.5 million and £7.5 million depending on total time, configuration, and maintenance status. The original XLS (2004–2009) typically trades at £2.5–£4.2 million. Depreciation averages 5–8% annually, with well-maintained, low-time aircraft at the lower end of that range. Market liquidity is excellent — the XLS is one of the most frequently transacted mid-size types globally, which benefits sellers and buyers alike through price transparency and speed of sale.
Citation XLS / XLS+ Variants and History
The Citation XLS traces its lineage to the Citation Excel, which first flew in February 1996 and entered service in 1998. The Excel was itself derived from the Citation V/Ultra airframe but with a substantially wider and taller cabin, making it the first Citation to offer stand-up headroom in the mid-size segment.
The Citation XLS (Model 560XL) replaced the Excel in 2004, introducing the more powerful PW545C engines, improved avionics, and refined interior appointments. First deliveries occurred in 2004 and the type quickly became a charter and owner-operator staple.
The Citation XLS+ entered production in 2009 with further improvements: a Garmin G5000 avionics option on later builds, winglet-adjacent aerodynamic cleaning, and a revised cabin interior with improved soundproofing and LED lighting. Production of the XLS+ continued until 2016, when Textron Aviation discontinued the line in favour of directing customers toward the Citation Latitude. This production cessation has had minimal impact on pre-owned values — if anything, it has stabilised prices by removing manufacturer competition from new inventory against used stock.