Midsize jets are where Houston charter starts covering the country: transcontinental legs, a stand-up cabin, and real baggage capacity. The Cessna Citation Excel / XLS is a practical fit for a small Houston team traveling together.
Cessna (Textron Aviation) introduced the Cessna Citation Excel / XLS in 1998. 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 Houston
A stand-up cabin matters on a four-hour Houston sector, and this category is where that becomes standard.
On the published 1,858 nautical miles of range, allowing for winds and reserves, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and New York sit inside a nonstop leg from Houston. Payload and weather on the day decide the real limit, and the operator runs those numbers before the trip is confirmed.
Gallery
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 8/2026. Actual quotes vary by operator, routing, positioning, and date.
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 Houston departures.
Contact
For a quote on a Cessna Citation Excel / XLS charter from Houston, TX, 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.