
Cessna Citation Latitude vs. Embraer Praetor 500 – A Midsize Showdown
Date
May 22, 2025Author
Kandi Spangler, Managing Director, jetAVIVAIn the fiercely competitive midsize jet market, two aircraft consistently dominate conversations with clients: the Cessna Citation Latitude and the Embraer Praetor 500.
The Citation Latitude entered service in 2015 and has quickly become a category favorite, with over 400 aircraft delivered to date. It was developed as a clean-sheet design, though it borrows structural elements from the Citation Sovereign, offering a stand-up, flat-floor cabin and proven systems. In contrast, the Praetor 500—introduced in 2018 and entering service in late 2019—is a significantly upgraded variant of the clean-sheet Legacy 450, featuring increased range, redesigned winglets, and advanced avionics. With approximately 130 units in operation, the Praetor 500 is newer to the market but rapidly gaining traction. Both aircraft have seen strong uptake from leading fractional providers and limited availability on the pre-owned market, setting the stage for long-term value. This article takes a closer look at how these two aircraft stack up against each other.
Performance, Range & Comfort
The Citation Latitude and the Praetor 500 both offer excellent range and efficiency but serve slightly different mission profiles:
- Range: The Praetor 500 boasts a superior range of 3,340 nautical miles, significantly outperforming the Latitude’s 2,700 nautical miles. This additional range allows for more direct routing, reducing fuel stops and travel time on longer missions.
- Cruise Speed: The Praetor 500 has a slightly higher maximum cruise speed of 466 knots, compared to the Latitude’s 446 knots, allowing it to shave off valuable time on longer flights. Additionally, operators with experience in both models indicate it takes the Latitude longer to reach its normal cruise speed of Mach 0.78 (needing to burn off fuel/weight) than the Praetor, which can cruise at Mach 0.80 almost immediately after leveling off at altitude.
- Runway Performance: The Latitude has better short-field performance allowing it to operate out of runways as short as 3,580 feet at sea level, making it an attractive option for accessing smaller airports. The Praetor 500 requires a slightly longer 4,222 feet at sea level, which may limit access to some shorter airstrips, especially in hot and/or high altitude locations. Some key airports where this limitation might impact passengers are Aspen (KASE), Sedona (KSEZ), Santa Monica (KSMO) and Lake Tahoe/Truckee (KTRK).
- Cabin Comfort: Both aircraft offer a spacious, flat-floor cabin, but the Longitude has a slightly wider cabin at 77” vs the Praetor 500 at a width of 72”, providing passengers a more spacious feel. However, the Praetor is longer and provides passengers with a marginally lower cabin altitude (5,800 feet vs. 5,950 feet at cruise) resulting in a slightly more comfortable ride on long journeys.
- Turbulence Handling: The Praetor’s fly-by-wire system, and most notably, the airplane’s active turbulence reduction system, allows the airplane to handle turbulence more effectively, translating into greater passenger comfort in bumpy air.
- Noise Mitigation: Textron advertises the Latitude as being the “quietest cabin in its class” through advanced soundproofing, triple-sealed doors and isolated interior shell; while Embraer touts the Praetor 500 as reducing noise and vibrations through its active turbulence reduction system and the use of other noise-dampening materials. While there is no industry standard for measuring sound levels in flight, clients who have experience in both airplanes say the Praetor 500 is quieter.
Avionics Technology
Both aircraft feature state-of-the-art avionics, but Embraer’s selection of Pro Line Fusion with the Synthetic Vision Guidance System (SVGS) gives the Praetor 500 an advanced edge in low-visibility operations. The system’s envelope protection and autothrottles enhance safety and ease of operation.
The Citation Latitude, on the other hand, is equipped with Garmin’s G5000 suite, which offers excellent situational awareness and intuitive controls.
While both systems are highly-capable, the Praetor 500’s avionics offer additional functionality suited for international operations.
Financial Considerations
With a similar purchase price of roughly $22 million for either aircraft, buyers need to consider operational costs, depreciation, and long-term value. Here’s how the two compare:
- Fuel Efficiency: According to several sources, the Citation Latitude and Praetor 500 both burn approximately 240-250 gallons per hour (GPH) or about 2,500 lbs for the first hour, and 2,000 lbs for the second hour. However, because the Praetor 500 is faster, the actual cost per nautical mile favors the Praetor.
- Maintenance & Support: One of the most critical questions I get from clients considering the Latitude vs. Praetor 500, is the post-sale support. While Embraer has made significant strides in improving service and support, some customers report that Textron has a clear advantage in terms of service availability, parts support, and maintenance network – though this is admittedly subjective.
- Direct Operating Costs: The Latitude shines in direct operating costs with an advertised hourly operating cost of between $2,500–$2,700, while the Praetor 500—with its higher thrust engines and more advanced systems—comes in slightly higher at $2,900–$3,100 per hour. There may be a cost advantage operating the Latitude on shorter legs while the Praetor 500 will likely be cheaper to operate beyond 2.5 hours. The math lies in cost-per-hour vs. cost-per-nautical-mile calculations.
- Resale Values: Both the Citation Latitude and the Praetor 500 have demonstrated strong residual value retention, a trend largely supported by their relatively young yet rapidly expanding fleets. This growth has been fueled by adoption from the two largest fractional ownership providers. NetJets selected the Citation Latitude as a core part of its midsize fleet strategy, citing its reliability, spacious cabin, and operating efficiency. Their initial order included up to 175 aircraft, reflecting a substantial long-term commitment. Meanwhile, Flexjet has shown consistent loyalty to the Embraer Praetor line, with a sizable fleet of Praetor 500s and 600s. Flexjet was the launch fleet customer for the Praetor 500 in North America, drawn to its superior range, performance, and advanced technology.
The Verdict
Choosing between the Citation Latitude and Embraer Praetor 500 comes down to mission requirements and personal preference:
For owners prioritizing range, speed and leading-edge avionics, the Praetor 500 is an excellent choice, offering superior transcontinental capability and high-speed cruise performance.
For those focused on operational efficiency, wider cabin, and better short-field performance, the Citation Latitude is the more practical investment. It offers lower direct operating costs, and an established service infrastructure, which may contribute to a better ownership experience.
Coming to the right conclusion will require careful analysis and a savvy broker who isn’t motivated by selling one brand over another. Give me a call to learn which model is best for you. Kandi Spangler, Managing Director, +1 (312) 246-2508 or [email protected]