Find the best freeware airports for MSFS 2020, including major airline hubs, regional fields and a detailed US general aviation airport.
The best freeware airports for MSFS 2020 include Gatwick (EGKK), London Stansted (EGSS), Inverness (EGPE), Stornoway (EGPO) and Fort Lauderdale Executive (KFXE). Together they cover major airline hubs, cargo flying, Scottish regional routes and North American general aviation, with meaningful terminal, apron, lighting and ground-layout improvements.
Best MSFS 2020 freeware airports by flying style
Gatwick is our strongest all-round choice, but the right airport depends on the aircraft and routes you fly.
| Airport | Best for | What the freeware improves |
|---|---|---|
| Gatwick (EGKK) | Large-hub airline operations | Remodelled Gatwick terminals, taxiways and stands, with dynamic lighting and detailed ramp activity. |
| London Stansted (EGSS) | Airline and cargo flying | Custom Stansted terminals and improved aprons, supported by PBR materials and upgraded night lighting. |
| Inverness (EGPE) | Scottish regional routes | The dedicated MSFS 2020 build of Inverness adds a handcrafted terminal and tower, plus improved cargo and landside areas. |
| Stornoway (EGPO) | Island and regional operations | Replacement terminals, improved aprons, fencing and approach lighting. Separate MSFS 2020 and 2024 builds are available, so select the correct package. |
| Fort Lauderdale Executive (KFXE) | North American general aviation | A detailed KFXE enhancement for GA flying, including a custom tower, US Customs, fixed-base operators and improved night lighting. |
Which freeware airport should I install first?
Install Gatwick first if you mainly fly airliners, or Fort Lauderdale Executive if you prefer business jets and general aviation.
- Choose Gatwick for a busy international hub with substantial terminal and airfield work.
- Choose Stansted for European airline and cargo sectors where apron detail and night lighting matter.
- Choose Inverness or Stornoway for shorter regional sectors around Scotland rather than another large international airport.
- Choose KFXE for piston aircraft, turboprops and business jets operating from a detailed GA field.
Airport size alone is a poor selection rule. A regional package you regularly fly from will add more practical value than a huge hub used once.
How do I install freeware airports in MSFS 2020?
MSFS 2020 airport scenery must be extracted and placed in the active Community folder before starting the simulator.
- Download and extract the archive. Do not place the ZIP file itself in
Community. - Check the folder structure. The actual package folder should contain files such as
manifest.jsonandlayout.json. If those files sit inside another identically named folder, move the inner package instead. - Copy the package into the active Community folder. Steam, Microsoft Store and custom installations can use different package locations, so do not assume an old Community folder is still active.
- Remove other scenery for the same ICAO code. Running two EGKK or EGSS packages together commonly produces duplicate terminals, overlapping aprons and misplaced parking positions.
- Start MSFS 2020 and test from a parking stand. Check terminal placement, taxiway markings and night lighting before beginning a full flight.
Where separate MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024 downloads exist, use only the 2020 build. Installing both editions is a common source of conflicts and unexplained scenery faults.
Why do airport buildings appear twice?
Duplicate terminals, floating objects and overlapping ground textures usually mean that two airport packages are active for the same location.
- Temporarily remove every add-on for that ICAO code except the package being tested.
- Check for an older copy stored under a different folder name.
- Confirm that you installed the MSFS 2020 edition rather than a separate MSFS 2024 build.
- If duplicates remain with only one add-on active, the scenery may not fully exclude the default airport and will need a corrected package build.
Clearing Rolling Cache is not the first fix for duplicated airport objects. That cache mainly holds streamed world data; it does not remove a second airport package from Community.
Do MSFS 2020 freeware airports work on Xbox?
These downloadable freeware airports are for the PC edition of MSFS 2020. Xbox users cannot copy third-party packages into a Community folder and are limited to scenery distributed through the simulator's built-in Marketplace.