The two families of aircraft have some overlap within the private aviation industry. Bombardier and Cessna are both prominent players in the US private aviation market, with each holding a significant market share. In 2023, Cessna accounted for over 35% of the private jet market and nearly 61% in the midsize jet category. On the other hand, Bombardier held a 12.5% market share in the United States private aviation market. However, their overlap is limited to the midsize jet market.
Cessna primarily dominates the light jet market and has a strong presence in the midsize jet market with its Citation family of aircraft. The Citation family includes various aircraft models, ranging from smaller CitationJets to larger Citation Longitude aircraft, although the latter is still classified as a super-midsize jet. In contrast, Bombardier offers larger jets, with even its smallest aircraft in the Challenger family classified as a midsize jet. The largest offering in the Challenger family is considered a super-midsize business jet.
To delve deeper into the comparison between the Cessna Citation and Bombardier Challenger families, let's examine each family individually.
Cessna Citation:
The lineage of Cessna's business jets began with the Citation I, which was introduced in 1972. Over time, this family of aircraft has evolved into three major fuselage cross-sections, resulting in a total production of over 8,000 jets.
The Citation I transformed into the CitationJet (CJ) series of aircraft. Currently, Cessna produces the M2, CJ3, and CJ4 models. The CJ variants dominate the light business jet market, with more than 2,000 units manufactured since 1991. These aircraft can accommodate between seven and ten passengers and offer a range of 1,550 nautical miles (1,783 miles) to 2,165 nautical miles (2,491 miles). Their cruise speeds range from 404 knots (464 miles per hour) to 451 knots (519 miles per hour).
The Citation III eventually evolved into the Excel, XLS, and Sovereign models. Currently, the XLS is in production, and the newest variant, the Citation Ascend, is scheduled to commence deliveries in 2025. The XLS can accommodate nine passengers, while the other models in this lineage have their own unique features and capabilities.