The Cessna Citation III is a value option in the Palm Beach midsize market, offering 2,348 nautical miles of range and a proper swept wing at a rate below almost anything else with a stand-up cabin. It suits clients who want the Northeast or the Caribbean nonstop from West Palm Beach without paying for a current-production aircraft.
Cessna designed the Citation III as a clean-sheet swept-wing jet, a departure from the straight-wing Citations before it, with two Honeywell TFE731 engines and a cruise around 472 knots. It seats 6 to 9 passengers and carries 2,348 nautical miles of range. Production ran through the 1980s, so the aircraft in charter service today are older airframes with upgraded avionics. Every Cessna Citation III we arrange flies with an operator certified under FAR Part 135, the FAA rules for on-demand, for-hire charter.
Performance and Cabin
- Category: Midsize Jet
- Manufacturer: Cessna
- Year introduced: 1983
- Seating: 6 to 9
- Crew: 2
- Range: 2,348 nautical miles
- Cruise speed: 472 knots
- Service ceiling: 51,000 feet
- Length: 55.4 feet
- Wingspan: 53.5 feet
- Height: 16.8 feet
- Baggage volume: 60 cubic feet
- Lavatory: Enclosed
Why the Cessna Citation III Fits Palm Beach
Range is the Citation III’s argument here. At 2,348 nautical miles it covers Palm Beach to Teterboro, Chicago, Boston and Providenciales in Turks and Caicos nonstop, which is most of what a Palm Beach client asks a midsize jet to do.
For snowbird families coming south in November and heading north in April, a one-way in a Citation III often prices well below a newer midsize on the same routing. Those seasonal legs are one-directional by nature, and an older aircraft repositioning anyway is frequently the sensible way to move the family and the luggage.
On an aircraft of this vintage the operator matters more than the type. We confirm the operator holds a current FAR Part 135 certificate, review their safety and incident history, and check their ARGUS or Wyvern standing where they take part in those programs. We also confirm the crew are qualified and current on the Citation III specifically, not just on Citations generally.
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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.
- 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 III run $4,000 to $5,200 per hour as of 9/2026. Actual quotes vary by operator, routing, positioning, and date.
The Citation III quotes at approximately $4,000 to $5,200 per hour as of 9/2026, near the bottom of the Palm Beach midsize band. For a client whose deciding factor is nonstop range at the lowest midsize rate, it is worth pricing alongside the Hawker 800XP.
Other Midsize Jets Available
- Cessna Citation Excel / XLS
- 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 Palm Beach departures.
Contact
For a quote on a Cessna Citation III charter from Palm Beach, FL, call +1 (888) 987-5387 or visit 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.