Cessna has delivered the 100th Citation Excel, two years after the first. The Citation Excel was introduced at the 1994 NBAA and granted FAA type certification in April 1998. More than 200 firm customer orders had been taken for the Excel prior to first customer delivery. Cessna says its aircraft's success is due to "the concept of providing midsize cabin comfort at light jet costs, and system simplicity". Cessna has accelerated the Excel production line to the point where one aircraft is completed every three days. This apparently represents the fastest production line acceleration in the history of the Citation programme.