Cessna Citation fleet passes 30 million flight hours

Cessna Citation Sovereign+ business jet

Cessna passes 30 million hours with 6,600 Citation jets.

Cessna Citation Sovereign+ business jet.

Cessna has announced that the 6,600 Citation business jets, which have been delivered since 1972, have passed the 30 million flight hour mark.

The first Cessna Citation flew in 1969, gained its type certificate in late 1971 and entered service in 1972.

MUST-READ: Wheels Up chooses the Cessna Citation as its next private jet

Brad Thress, senior vice president of business jets at Cessna, said: “More Cessna Citations have been sold than any other family of business jet and more customers around the world choose Cessna’s Citation jets to save time and meet their business and transportation needs. People who choose Citation jets know they can rely on the team at Cessna to design and certify the right aircraft to meet their needs and know that the Citation name is backed by a worldwide network of factory-owned service centers and authorised independently owned service providers.”

“But we like to think it’s more than this. When it comes to the business of aviation, we believe that Cessna is looked upon as the aviation authority and the Citation name is synonymous with performance, dependability, and sustained value. It’s a role we embrace, and a reputation Cessnans are proud of. We look forward to living up to this standard for the next 30 million flight hours,” Thress added.

Cessna currently manufactures eight different Citation models, including the Citation Mustang and Citation X – the world’s fastest business jet – however, the company had to cut production on a number of Citation models in 2013 due to declining orders.

Cessna has celebrated a number of milestones lately, including the certification of the Citation Sovereign+ and the Citation M2 in December 2013.