Compare Airbus A340 add-ons for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, including the main A340-300, freeware caveats, installation and Xbox support.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 does not include an Airbus A340 by default. The principal complete, native add-on is LatinVFR’s payware Airbus A340-300. Freeware A340 downloads also appear, but many are repaints, legacy conversions or incomplete packages, so check that the download includes its own model, cockpit and flight model.
Which complete Airbus A340 add-on should you choose?
For most simmers wanting a readily flyable A340 in MSFS 2020, the LatinVFR Airbus A340-300 is the straightforward choice. It supplies the complete aircraft rather than requiring another A340 as a base model.
| Option | What it provides | Best suited to | Main caveat |
|---|---|---|---|
| LatinVFR Airbus A340-300 | Complete native payware aircraft | Flying an accessible long-haul A340-300 in MSFS 2020 | Check that its systems depth matches your expectations; it represents the -300, not the -500 or -600 |
| Complete freeware A340 package | Aircraft model, cockpit and flight model when genuinely complete | Casual flying and experimentation | Quality, compatibility and cockpit functionality vary considerably |
| A340 livery or repaint | New airline colours for a specified base aircraft | Owners of the exact aircraft named by the repaint | It does not add a flyable A340 by itself |
| Legacy FSX or Prepar3D conversion | Usually a converted exterior with varying levels of functionality | Experienced PC users prepared to troubleshoot | Old gauges, sounds and cockpit systems may not work in MSFS 2020 |
Our comparison of available A330 and A340 packages helps if aircraft fidelity matters more than having four engines specifically. Pay particular attention to MCDU operation, managed autopilot modes, ECAM functions and fuel transfer modelling; those areas distinguish a convincing A340 from an exterior model using generic airliner systems.
A repaint cannot turn an A340-300 into an accurate A340-600. The longer -500 and -600 family uses different dimensions, engines, wing details, landing gear arrangements, weights and performance, none of which changes when textures are replaced.
Is the Airbus A340 included with MSFS 2020?
No, every flyable Airbus A340 in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 requires a third-party add-on. Our breakdown of the standard MSFS 2020 fleet shows which aircraft Microsoft supplies and which types need separate packages.
Is there a free A340 for MSFS 2020?
Free A340 files exist, but their labels do not always describe what is actually included. A mistake we see constantly is downloading an attractive A340 repaint and expecting a new aircraft to appear in the selector.
How can you identify a complete freeware A340?
A complete package must provide, or clearly identify, everything required to fly the aircraft. Before installing one, check for:
- An explicit statement that it is compatible with Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, not merely FSX, Prepar3D or MSFS 2024.
- A flyable aircraft model and cockpit rather than an AI-only or static model.
- Its own flight model, systems configuration and sounds, or clearly stated dependencies that you already own.
- The exact A340 variant represented and whether the cockpit matches that variant.
- A requirement for a separate payware base aircraft; if one is listed, the file is probably an enhancement or repaint rather than a complete aircraft.
Our checklist for finding complete freeware MSFS aircraft covers these distinctions without treating every livery or legacy conversion as a full download.
Why does an installed A340 not appear in MSFS 2020?
An A340 normally fails to appear because it is installed in the wrong folder, nested too deeply or missing its required base aircraft. Work through these checks in order:
- Confirm the simulator version. A package made only for another simulator cannot be assumed to work in MSFS 2020.
- Identify the file type. Verify that it is a complete aircraft rather than a livery, AI model or optional enhancement.
- Check the package level. For a manually installed PC add-on,
manifest.jsonandlayout.jsonshould sit at the root of the aircraft’s package folder insideCommunity, not inside a second identically named folder. - Restart the simulator. MSFS scans aircraft packages during launch; copying files while it is running may not register them.
- Test without conflicting mods. Temporarily remove old A340 enhancements and duplicate versions, then load the base aircraft alone.
Folder locations differ between Microsoft Store, Xbox app and Steam installations, so use our platform-specific aircraft installation instructions rather than guessing where the Community folder is.
Can an A340 add-on be installed on Xbox?
Only an A340 offered for Xbox through the in-simulator Marketplace can be installed on the console version of MSFS 2020. Xbox users cannot copy freeware or externally purchased packages into a Community folder, and a PC purchase outside the Marketplace does not by itself create an Xbox entitlement.