Compare the best freeware airliners for MSFS 2024: A32NX, A380X and A330-900neo, with PC, console, installation and compatibility advice.
The best freeware airliners for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 are the FlyByWire A320neo A32NX for overall systems depth, the FlyByWire A380X for complex long-haul operations, and the Headwind A330-900neo for a more approachable wide-body. On PC, start with the A32NX; console users cannot sideload these community packages.
Best freeware airliner add-ons for MSFS 2024
Three aircraft stand above the rest because they offer a flyable aircraft rather than merely a repaint, sound pack or modification for a separately purchased model.
| Aircraft | Best for | Why it makes the list | Main caveat |
|---|---|---|---|
| FlyByWire A320neo A32NX | Best overall and short-to-medium-haul flying | Custom Airbus systems, avionics, flight-management functions and EFB tools make it the strongest first freeware airliner. | Throttle detents usually need calibrating for each controller profile. |
| FlyByWire A380X | Complex, high-capacity long-haul operations | It provides the distinctive four-engine A380 cockpit and operating workflow without requiring a paid aircraft. | It demands more cockpit learning and is the most performance-sensitive choice at detailed, busy airports. |
| Headwind Airbus A330-900neo | Twin-engine wide-body routes | It combines long-haul range with a familiar Airbus-style workflow and a useful selection of airline liveries. | Use an MSFS 2024-compatible build and matching liveries; older packages may load with missing textures or broken functions. |
We exclude stock aircraft supplied with MSFS 2024 because they are part of the purchased simulator rather than freeware downloads. We also exclude supposedly free airliners that require a higher simulator edition, a paid donor aircraft or another commercial product.
Which free MSFS 2024 airliner should I install first?
The A32NX is the best first download because it balances system depth, documentation, performance and the workload of a conventional two-person narrow-body cockpit.
- Choose the A32NX for scheduled European or domestic routes, detailed Airbus procedures and the lowest learning barrier of these three aircraft.
- Choose the A330-900neo when you want twin-engine long-haul flying without the size and workload of an A380.
- Choose the A380X specifically for A380 operations, very long sectors and a more demanding cockpit.
- Choose the A32NX on a less powerful PC before trying the A380X, particularly if you also use detailed airports, traffic and live weather.
These are primarily Free Flight recommendations. A Community aircraft that works normally in Free Flight may still be absent from Career Mode because mission eligibility and aircraft ownership require separate integration.
How do I install freeware airliners in MSFS 2024?
Install the aircraft into the active MSFS 2024 Community location on PC, following its supplied installer or package instructions rather than copying an old MSFS 2020 installation.
- Confirm the aircraft and simulator version. Check the notes for our complete A32NX aircraft package or the Headwind A330-900neo download and liveries before installing.
- Close the simulator. Remove any older copy of the same aircraft rather than merging the new files over it. Overwriting can leave obsolete files behind.
- Use the supplied installer when available. Select Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 and verify that it has detected the correct packages location. For the larger aircraft, follow our A380X installation and compatibility walkthrough.
- Extract manual packages fully. Place the aircraft package in the active
Communityfolder, never theOfficialfolder. A typical package should haveCommunity/package-name/manifest.json, not another identically named folder between those levels. - Test the base aircraft first. Load its supplied default livery at a quiet airport before adding third-party liveries, traffic tools or cockpit modifications.
Are these free airliners available on Xbox and PS5?
Loose Community-folder downloads cannot be installed on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 or PS5 Pro; console aircraft must be distributed through the simulator's in-game catalogue.
A free PC download therefore does not guarantee that the same aircraft is available free on console. If a console edition is offered through the simulator, use that release rather than instructions written for PC. Our breakdown of complete free aircraft and platform restrictions explains the distinction between flyable aircraft, repaints and console-compatible content.
Why does a freeware airliner not appear or work?
A wrong Community path, an extra nested folder or duplicate package versions cause most missing-aircraft and failed-loading problems in MSFS 2024.
- Aircraft missing from the selector: confirm that the archive was extracted, locate
manifest.json, and check that you used MSFS 2024's active Community folder rather than an abandoned MSFS 2020 path. - Blank displays or endless loading: remove duplicate aircraft versions and test with every unrelated Community add-on disabled. Reinstall the aircraft cleanly if an older release was overwritten.
- Pink textures or invisible exterior parts: select the aircraft's default livery. The usual cause is a livery built for another model revision or simulator version.
- Incorrect thrust or reverse activation: create a dedicated controller profile, remove duplicate throttle bindings and calibrate the Airbus idle, climb and take-off detents where the aircraft provides that facility.
- Crashes or severe stuttering at a hub: test at a quiet default airport with traffic reduced. This separates an aircraft problem from the combined load of airport scenery, traffic and weather.
MSFS 2020 packages need explicit MSFS 2024 support
An aircraft appearing in the selection menu does not prove that an older MSFS 2020 package is compatible with MSFS 2024. Displays, flight-plan import, sounds, lighting and external animations can fail later in the flight.
Use a build whose notes explicitly mention MSFS 2024. After installation, test a cold-and-dark start, flight controls, throttle detents, flight-plan entry and the default livery before restoring other add-ons.