The Cessna Citation Excel and XLS is the busiest midsize jet in South Florida, and on most Palm Beach quote sheets it is the first aircraft we price. It has a stand-up cabin, it gets into Boca Raton Airport comfortably, and it flies West Palm Beach to Teterboro nonstop, which covers the single most common trip in this market.
The Excel and XLS seat 7 to 8 passengers behind two Pratt and Whitney Canada PW545 engines, cruising around 441 knots with 1,858 nautical miles of range. Cessna built it on the Citation X wing and fuselage cross-section with a shortened, straight wing, which is why it has a stand-up cabin and short-field manners at the same time. The XLS and XLS+ added Rockwell Collins avionics and engine upgrades. Every Cessna Citation Excel / XLS 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 (Textron Aviation)
- Year introduced: 1998
- Seating: 7 to 8
- Crew: 2
- Range: 1,858 nautical miles
- Cruise speed: 441 knots
- Service ceiling: 45,000 feet
- Length: 52.5 feet
- Wingspan: 56.3 feet
- Height: 17.2 feet
- Baggage volume: 90 cubic feet
- Lavatory: Enclosed
Why the Cessna Citation Excel / XLS Fits Palm Beach
West Palm Beach to Teterboro is roughly 900 nautical miles and Hanscom is about 1,040. Both are nonstop for an XLS with a full cabin. For Palm Beach and Boca Raton fund managers who run the Northeast circuit several times a month in season, this is the aircraft that does it without a fuel stop and without super midsize money.
Boca Raton Airport is the reason many clients in the South County pick the XLS over a larger jet. Its short-field performance opens up KBCT and Witham Field at Stuart for clients in Boca, Jupiter Island and Hobe Sound who would otherwise drive up or down the coast to Trump International.
The Bahamas hops work well in this aircraft too. Nassau is about 170 nautical miles and Georgetown Exuma about 300, so the XLS is comfortable on a day trip out and back with the customs return planned into Trump International. On a 40-minute island leg the stand-up cabin and enclosed lavatory still matter to the people on board.
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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 Excel / XLS run $4,500 to $5,800 per hour as of 9/2026. Actual quotes vary by operator, routing, positioning, and date.
The Excel and XLS quote at approximately $4,500 to $5,800 per hour as of 9/2026, mid-band for a South Florida midsize. Its fleet size in this market is large enough that short-notice pricing tends to be more stable than on scarcer types, even in February.
Other Midsize Jets Available
- Cessna Citation III
- 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 Excel / XLS 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.