Cessna Citation Longitude: how 138 jets are really flown
The busiest 5% made more than 44 flights a month and the quietest 5% fewer than 4: over 14 times as many, on the same type.
At the harder end, one Citation Longitude in twenty sees a freeze and a thaw on 21% or more of its nights. At the easier end, it is 3% or less.
For the easiest-used 5%, a short runway is rare: 8% of departures or fewer. At the harder end, 43% or more leave from one.
The hardest-worked 5% log 44 flights a month or more; the easiest-used, 4 or less. The middle aircraft sits at 35.
Fatigue
What each landing and pressurization cycle costs the structure: landings per hour and short hops.
The middle Citation Longitude flies 1.6 hours for every landing. One in twenty lands every 1.3 hours or sooner, the most cycles for its time.
Middle half 1.5–1.7 : 1Harder end: 5% at 1.3 : 1 or lessEasier end: 5% at 2.0 : 1 or more
Middle half 36–41%Harder end: 5% at 51% or moreEasier end: 5% at 21% or less
Middle half 393–479 nmLowest 5%: 283 nm or lessHighest 5%: 772 nm or more
Context, not graded: the tint marks the harder and easier end of the fleet.
Spread of trip lengths
All 138 Citation LongitudesThe data behind it
Every measure for the 138 North American Citation Longitudes, 1 Aug 2025 – 31 Jul 2026.| Measure | Fleet median | Middle half |
|---|---|---|
| Hours per landing Each aircraft’s average flight hours per landing | 1.6 : 1 | 1.5–1.7 : 1 |
| Short hops Share of legs under 300 nm | 39% | 36–41% |
| Leg length Median leg | 430 nm | 393–479 nm |
Corrosion
What the air around it does overnight: salt, damp and freeze–thaw.
The middle Citation Longitude spends 9% of its nights within 2 km of the coast. One in twenty spends 15% or more of them there.
Middle half 6–12%Harder end: 5% at 15% or moreEasier end: 5% at -0%
Middle half 6.3–7.7 hHarder end: 5% at 9.1 h or moreEasier end: 5% at 5.5 h or less
Middle half 6–12%Harder end: 5% at 21% or moreEasier end: 5% at 3% or less
Context, not graded: the tint marks the harder and easier end of the fleet.
Salt air across the fleet
122 Citation LongitudesThe data behind it
Every measure for the 122 of the 138 North American Citation Longitudes with enough nights at known fields, 1 Aug 2025 – 31 Jul 2026 (2 on their record since 1 Jan 2025: too few in the 12 months).| Measure | Fleet median | Middle half |
|---|---|---|
| Salt air Nights within 2 km of the coast | 9% | 6–12% |
| Near the coast Nights within 10 km of the coast | 42% | 35–47% |
| Damp air Hours a day at 80% humidity or more, above freezing | 6.9 h | 6.3–7.7 h |
| Freeze–thaw Nights that froze and thawed within the day | 9% | 6–12% |
| Moisture in the air Average absolute humidity overnight | 9.4 g/m³ | 8.8–10.0 g/m³ |
Engines and brakes
What departures ask of engines, brakes and tires: heat and height, and runway length.
The middle Citation Longitude leaves from a short runway on 22% of its departures. One in twenty does on 43% or more.
Middle half 18–24%Harder end: 5% at 43% or moreEasier end: 5% at 8% or less
Middle half 6–9%Harder end: 5% at 12% or moreEasier end: 5% at -0%
Middle half 1,314–1,575 ftHarder end: 5% at 2,141 ft or moreEasier end: 5% at 1,131 ft or less
Context, not graded: the tint marks the harder and easier end of the fleet.
Runway margin at departure
42,411 departuresThe data behind it
Every measure for the 138 North American Citation Longitudes, 1 Aug 2025 – 31 Jul 2026 (1 on their record since 1 Jan 2025: too few departures in the 12 months).| Measure | Fleet median | Middle half |
|---|---|---|
| Short runways Departures where the longest runway was under 1.25× the takeoff distance | 22% | 18–24% |
| Hot, high takeoffs Departures at 5,000 ft density altitude or more | 8% | 6–9% |
| Density altitude Typical density altitude at takeoff | 1,397 ft | 1,314–1,575 ft |
Utilization
How steadily the fleet is used: flights, flying days and estimated hours.
The middle Citation Longitude made 35 flights a month. The busiest 5% made 44 or more, the quietest 4 or fewer.
Middle half 9.2–40.0Harder end: 5% at 44.1 or moreEasier end: 5% at 3.5 or less
Middle half 6.2–17.9Harder end: 5% at 19.5 or moreEasier end: 5% at 2.8 or less
Middle half 168–752 hHarder end: 5% at ≈837 h or moreEasier end: 5% at ≈69 h or less
Context, not graded: the tint marks the harder and easier end of the fleet.
Month by month
12 monthsMedian flights per aircraft that flew that month · darker bar is the busiest month, June 2026
The data behind it
Every measure for the 138 North American Citation Longitudes, every active aircraft (no 40% tracking floor here: on this type it would change which aircraft are compared, not just drop undercounted ones), 1 Aug 2025 – 31 Jul 2026.| Measure | Fleet median | Middle half |
|---|---|---|
| Flights a month In the months it flew | 35.2 | 9.2–40.0 |
| Days flown a month Days with at least one flight | 16.1 | 6.2–17.9 |
| Estimated hours a year From time in the air | ≈667 h | 168–752 h |
Buying, selling or financing a Citation Longitude?
See where your Citation Longitude sits in the fleet.
Enter a tail number to place it against these 138 aircraft. TailCheck grades it on Fatigue, Corrosion, Engines and brakes, and Utilization, with every percentile shown.
Where Citation Longitudes are based and fly
Nashville is home to more Citation Longitudes than any other field, 2 of the 37 with a home base.
Washington Dulles–Teterboro is the busiest route: 259 flights by 90 different aircraft.
Where Citation Longitudes are based
| Field | Share | Aircraft |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville | 2 | |
| John Glenn Columbus | 2 | |
| William P Hobby | 2 | |
| San Antonio | 2 | |
| Springfield-Branson National | 2 | |
| Tyler Pounds | 2 |
Busiest Citation Longitude routes
| Between | Flights |
|---|---|
| Washington Dulles ⇄ Teterboro | 259 flights |
| Palm Beach ⇄ Teterboro | 219 |
| Logan ⇄ Teterboro | 201 |
| McCarran ⇄ Scottsdale | 174 |
| McCarran ⇄ John Wayne | 164 |
| San Francisco ⇄ Norman Y. Mineta San Jose | 152 |
Longest Citation Longitude flights
| Between | Distance · time |
|---|---|
| Nashville → Luton | 3,619 nm · 7 h 59 min |
| Portland Jetport → Stuttgart | 3,166 nm · 8 h 05 min |
| Baltimore-Washington → Luton | 3,146 nm · 6 h 38 min |
| Appleton → Edinburgh | 3,137 nm · 8 h 02 min |
| Westchester → Paris-Le Bourget | 3,129 nm · 8 h 08 min |
Busiest Citation Longitudes this year
The busiest Citation Longitude made 47 flights a month.
Even the tenth on this list made 44.
Ranked by flights a month · updated monthly
| # | Tail | Flights a month | Estimated hours a year | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | N854QS | 47 | 866 h | Check this tail → |
| 2 | N878QS | 47 | 874 h | Check this tail → |
| 3 | N869QS | 45 | 849 h | Check this tail → |
| 4 | N806QS | 45 | 848 h | Check this tail → |
| 5 | N882QS | 45 | 867 h | Check this tail → |
| 6 | N877QS | 45 | 836 h | Check this tail → |
| 7 | N832QS | 44 | 820 h | Check this tail → |
| 8 | N872QS | 44 | 793 h | Check this tail → |
| 9 | N844QS | 44 | 835 h | Check this tail → |
| 10 | N875QS | 44 | 811 h | Check this tail → |
Citation Longitude vs other aircraft of its size
Medians for each North American fleet, same window and method.
| Type | Tracked | Flights a month | Hours a year | Median leg | Hours per landing | Short hops |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cessna Citation Longitude | 138 | 35.2 | 667 h | 430 nm | 1.6 : 1 | 39% |
| Bombardier Challenger 300/350 | 755 | 9.8 | 194 h | 481 nm | 1.6 : 1 | 35% |
| Bombardier Challenger 600 series | 501 | 8.2 | 180 h | 498 nm | 1.7 : 1 | 34% |
| Gulfstream GIV/G450 | 495 | 8.5 | 189 h | 560 nm | 1.9 : 1 | 33% |
| Dassault Falcon 2000 | 409 | 6.5 | 135 h | 523 nm | 1.7 : 1 | 32% |
Citation Longitude vs Bombardier Challenger 300/350, in full →
Citation Longitude vs Challenger 300/350 →Citation Longitude vs Citation CJ4 →Citation Longitude vs Citation X →Citation Longitude vs Praetor 600 →
Do older Citation Longitudes fly differently?
Age makes little difference: by year built, the median Citation Longitude in each band flew between 616 and 713 estimated hours a year.
Show the tableHide the table
| Serial block | Built | Tracked | Hours a year | Median leg | Short hops |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 700-0003–700-0087 | 2017–22 | 72 | 616 h | 429 nm | 39% |
| 700-0086–700-0158 | 2023–26 | 61 | 713 h | 430 nm | 39% |
US-registered aircraft only: the FAA registry gives serial number and year of manufacture for 133 of the 138 aircraft behind the hours figures. Built = year of manufacture. Avionics upgrades are fitted by modification and the registry doesn’t show them, so check an aircraft’s records.
Citation Longitude on paper
Certified figures come from the type certificate data sheet; the rest are the manufacturer’s.
| Measure | Citation Longitude | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum takeoff weight (certified) | 39,500 lb | UK CAA TCDS UK.TC.A.00068 Issue 1, p.6 |
| Maximum ramp weight (certified) | 39,700 lb | UK CAA TCDS UK.TC.A.00068 Issue 1, p.7 |
| Fuel capacity (certified) | 14,511 lb | UK CAA TCDS UK.TC.A.00068 Issue 1, p.5 |
| Range (manufacturer) | ≈ 3,500 nm | Manufacturer (spec page, Web page, retrieved 22 Oct 2026) |
| Takeoff distance (manufacturer) | 4,810 ft | Manufacturer (spec page, Web page, retrieved 22 Oct 2026) |
| Passengers | Up to 12 certified | UK CAA TCDS UK.TC.A.00068 Issue 1, p.7 |
| Fuel capacity, US gallons (approx.) | ≈ 2,170 US gal | From the certified pounds at 6.7 lb per US gallon of Jet A; actual density varies with temperature |
| High-speed cruise (manufacturer) | 483 kt | Manufacturer (spec page, Web page, retrieved 22 Oct 2026) |
| Length (manufacturer) | 73 ft 2 in | Manufacturer (spec page, Web page, retrieved 22 Oct 2026) |
| Wingspan (manufacturer) | 68 ft 11 in | Manufacturer (spec page, Web page, retrieved 22 Oct 2026) |
| Height (manufacturer) | 19 ft 5 in | Manufacturer (spec page, Web page, retrieved 22 Oct 2026) |
Citation Longitude questions
How many hours a year does a Citation Longitude fly?
The median North American Citation Longitude flies about 667 estimated hours a year; the middle half sits between 168 and 752. About 1 in 20 flies more than 837.
How often does a Citation Longitude fly?
35 flights a month on 16 flying days at the median. About 1 in 20 makes more than 44 flights a month.
How long is a typical Citation Longitude flight?
The median leg is 430 nm. About 1 in 20 aircraft average more than 772 nm a leg.
How often do Citation Longitude aircraft use short runways?
At the median, 22% of departures are from fields whose longest runway is under 1.25 times the type’s takeoff distance. About 1 in 20 keep it to 8% or less.
Is a high-hours Citation Longitude a bad buy?
Not by itself. High hours on long legs are gentler on the structure than the same hours on short hops. Look at hours per landing and short-hop share alongside hours.
Can a Citation Longitude fly across the Atlantic?
Yes. The manufacturer quotes 3,500 nm. In our tracking window, 47 of the 138 North American aircraft flew 102 nonstop crossings between the Americas and Europe or Africa. The busiest were Farnborough–Lawrence G. Hanscom (9 flights), Shannon–Bangor (5 flights), London Biggin Hill–Bangor (4 flights).
How many gallons of fuel does a Citation Longitude hold?
About 2,170 US gallons. The type certificate gives 14,511 lb; we convert at 6.7 lb per gallon of Jet A, so the figure is approximate.
Where are most Citation Longitude aircraft based?
In North America, Nashville is home to the most, followed by John Glenn Columbus and William P Hobby. A base is the field an aircraft touches on most of its flying days, month after month.
Cite this data
The Aircraft Ledger. “Cessna Citation Longitude fleet statistics.” Data to 31 July 2026. theaircraftledger.com/aircraft/cessna/citation-longitude
Embed a chart
<iframe src="https://theaircraftledger.com/embed/fleet/cessna-citation-longitude/fatigue" title="Fatigue" width="100%" height="1180" style="border:0;max-width:960px" loading="lazy"></iframe>Method: Cessna Citation Longitude aircraft with most departures in North America and at least 20 tracked flights in the latest twelve full months. Flight measures, bases, routes and rankings use ADS-B tracking 1 Aug 2025 – 31 Jul 2026; corrosion and engines-and-brakes exposure use the same twelve months, or an aircraft’s record since 1 Jan 2025 when it had too few nights or departures in them. Estimated hours from time in the air. Tracking misses some flights, so counts and hours are minimums. ADS-B coverage grew over the window, so we don’t compare one year with the last. Tracking can’t tell one variant from another; the variant split, the busiest table’s variants and the age table use the FAA registry, so they cover US-registered aircraft only. We assume the longest runway at each field, so short-runway figures are conservative. Short-runway figures use the manufacturer’s published takeoff distance where our sources hold one for every variant (the longest, where tracking can’t tell variants apart), and a reference figure otherwise. Corrosion measures cover the aircraft we can place on enough nights, some over the longer window when the twelve months had too few. Charter status is our own list, built from FAA records and public listings of charter aircraft; aircraft flown by a fractional program (NetJets, Flexjet and the like) are counted as fractional, not charter. About our data