Fly Alliance just made a move that signals where the charter market is heading. The company added its first light jet to its fleet, a Citation CJ4 Gen2. This isn’t just fleet expansion. It’s a recognition that the light jet category has quietly evolved into something far more capable than most people realize.
For years, the conversation in private aviation centered on getting bigger. Longer range. More cabin space. Stand-up headroom. Light jets felt like the compromise option, what you settled for when the midsize was booked or the budget wouldn’t stretch. That narrative is changing fast.
The CJ4 Gen2 Advantage
Textron Aviation made smart upgrades when it refreshed the CJ4. The Gen2 variant brings Garmin’s G3000 avionics suite, autothrottle, and other cockpit refinements that reduce pilot workload. But the real story is what stayed the same: the performance envelope.
The CJ4 Gen2 cruises at 451 knots. That’s genuinely fast for a light jet. Range sits at 2,165 nautical miles, enough to connect New York to Denver or Los Angeles to Chicago without a fuel stop. The cabin holds nine passengers comfortably, though most operators configure it for six or seven with more generous spacing.
What makes this aircraft particularly attractive for charter operators is the operating cost. Per flight hour, the CJ4 runs significantly cheaper than midsize jets while delivering 80-85% of the capability for typical mission profiles. For a charter company serving jet card members who primarily fly two to four passengers on trips under three hours, that math works beautifully.
What This Means for Jet Card Members
Fly Alliance’s decision to add the CJ4 Gen2 creates more flexibility for its existing jet card program. Light jets typically come with lower hourly rates than midsize or super-midsize aircraft. If you’re flying solo or with one colleague from Miami to Atlanta, paying for a Challenger doesn’t make sense. The CJ4 delivers the same departure time, the same privacy, and the same efficiency at a fraction of the cost.
For ad hoc charter clients, this expansion opens up new possibilities. Light jets often get overlooked because charter brokers default to recommending what they know best. Having a modern, well-equipped light jet in the fleet gives Fly Alliance a competitive edge in the short-haul market where most private flights actually happen.
The Broader Light Jet Renaissance
Fly Alliance isn’t alone in this shift. Orders for light jets have climbed steadily since 2023. The Embraer Phenom 300 series consistently ranks as the best-selling light jet globally. Honda’s HondaJet continues finding buyers despite its unconventional design. And Cirrus is pushing upmarket with the Vision Jet, bringing single-engine economics to the private jet category.
Several factors are driving this renaissance. First, airports. Light jets can access shorter runways and smaller airports that larger aircraft can’t reach. That opens up thousands of airports across North America and Europe that see little to no commercial service. Want to fly into Aspen, Teterboro, or Jackson Hole? Light jets handle those operations with ease.
Second, the pilot shortage. Light jets generally require smaller crews and less complex type ratings. For charter operators struggling to find qualified pilots, that matters. A CJ4 captain is easier to hire and cheaper to employ than a Global 7500 captain.
Third, sustainability concerns. This one is quieter but growing. Corporate flight departments are increasingly asked to justify emissions. Flying a light jet instead of a midsize for routes that don’t require the extra range shows environmental awareness without sacrificing the core benefits of private aviation.
The Right Tool for the Mission
The smart money in private aviation has always understood that bigger isn’t always better. It’s about matching the aircraft to the mission. If 60% of your flights carry three or fewer passengers over distances under 1,000 miles, a light jet is the right tool. You save money, access more airports, and get where you’re going just as fast.
Fly Alliance’s addition of the CJ4 Gen2 reflects a maturing market. Charter operators are getting more sophisticated about fleet composition. They’re analyzing actual flight data and recognizing that the light jet category deserves a second look. For passengers, that translates to more options, better pricing, and access to aircraft that were designed from the ground up for the missions most people actually fly.
The private aviation industry spent two decades chasing the ultra-long-range market. That segment matters, absolutely. But the volume is in the short-haul flights. That’s where light jets shine. Expect to see more operators following Fly Alliance’s lead in 2026 and beyond.