Textron Aviation's best-selling Cessna Citation family of private jets has reigned as America's most popular for 15 years, but it just lost its top spot.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration's August report on business jet operations, the Brazilian-made Embraer Phenom 300 has overtaken the Cessna Citation Excel series as the most-flown business plane in America.
The Phenom 300 has had over 360,300 takeoffs and landings at US airports since August 2022, while the Excel is just shy of 359,000. The difference is about 1,400 takeoffs and landings, according to the agency — making it the first time since 2009 that any private jet has flown more than the Excel in the US.
"With its best-in-class speed, range, and cabin pressurization, plus incredible fuel efficiency and the highest residual value in the industry, we continually improve upon this spectacular jet to deliver the utmost value to all our customers who fly it," CEO of Embraer Executive Jets Michael Amalfitano recently posted on LinkedIn.
The Cessna Citation Latitude, the Cessna Citation V, and the Cessna Citation CJ3 business aircraft were also in the FAA's monthly report as the third, sixth, and ninth most-flown private planes, respectively.
Private aviation consultant Brian Foley told Bloomberg that despite its smaller cabin, the Phenom 300 has become a fan-favorite thanks to its better fuel burn, speed, and range compared to the Excel. And, it costs about $3 million less than $13 million Cessna Citation XLS+, which is the latest version of the Excel.
He also explained that Embraer's "long airliner heritage" (the company also builds commercial planes) gives the Phenom 300 a "perception of being purpose-built for high utilization."
Take a look at the $10 million private plane.