Learn how to buy planes in MSFS 2024 through the Marketplace or Career Mode, where they appear and why an aircraft may remain locked.
In Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, you buy add-on planes through the in-simulator Marketplace, then install them from My Library and select them in Free Flight. Career Mode uses a separate system: earn Credits, unlock the required certification and company, then purchase an aircraft for that company from its fleet screen.
Which type of aircraft purchase do you need?
MSFS 2024 has two unrelated purchasing systems, and confusing them is the main reason a newly bought aircraft appears to be missing.
| What you want | How you get it | Where it works |
|---|---|---|
| An add-on aircraft | Buy it through the Marketplace and manage it in My Library | Free Flight and other supported modes |
| A company aircraft | Spend earned Career Credits through the company fleet screen | Career Mode only |
| An aircraft included with your edition | No purchase is required | Select it from the Free Flight aircraft picker |
How do I buy an add-on plane from the MSFS 2024 Marketplace?
Buy a Free Flight add-on by opening the Marketplace, choosing a complete aircraft product and completing the payment process shown for your platform.
- Open the Marketplace from the simulator's main menu while signed into the account you intend to use.
- Browse the aircraft category or search for the model you want.
- Read the product description carefully. Confirm that it supports Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 and your platform. A cheap listing may be only a livery, sound set or upgrade requiring another aircraft.
- Complete the purchase using the Marketplace checkout and platform payment process.
- Open My Library and download, install or enable the package if prompted.
- Start Free Flight and find the aircraft in the aircraft selector. Clear manufacturer, category and favourites filters if it does not appear.
Our detailed Marketplace purchase and My Library instructions cover content management after checkout. Do not assume that a purchase will transfer to a different platform family or account; check the entitlement information displayed before paying.
How do I buy a plane in MSFS 2024 Career Mode?
Career aircraft are bought with in-game Career Credits after you have unlocked the appropriate operation and established a compatible company.
- Earn the required certification and specialisation for the aircraft and work you plan to perform.
- Unlock and create the relevant company, such as an operation suited to cargo, charter or another mission type.
- Open the company's fleet management screen and review the aircraft offered for purchase.
- Check the total commitment, not just the purchase price. Keep Credits available for insurance, maintenance and repairs.
- Purchase the aircraft and assign it to suitable freelance work through that company.
You do not need to own a plane for employee missions because the employer supplies it. Ownership matters when operating freelance missions through your own company. See our full explanation of buying, maintaining and selling Career aircraft before spending most of your Credits on the airframe alone.
If the desired model remains unavailable, compare your progress with the Career licence and aircraft unlock requirements. Having enough Credits does not bypass certification, specialisation or company restrictions.
Does buying an add-on plane make it owned in Career Mode?
No. A Marketplace purchase adds the aircraft to your simulator library, but it does not give your Career company a free copy or remove Career progression requirements.
The add-on must explicitly support Career Mode, fit an eligible company activity and be unlocked for your character. If supported, you will still normally acquire the Career instance with earned Credits. Our guide to add-on aircraft compatibility in Career Mode explains why some installed planes never enter the Career fleet market.
Why is my purchased aircraft missing?
A missing aircraft is usually installed under the wrong account, disabled in My Library or hidden by an aircraft-selection filter.
- Marketplace purchase not showing: confirm that the simulator is online and signed into the same Microsoft and platform accounts used at checkout.
- Product appears in My Library but not Free Flight: install or enable it, remove aircraft filters and restart the simulator after the package finishes processing.
- Only liveries appear: the purchase may require a separate base aircraft that you do not own.
- Career purchase button is locked: check the required certification, specialisation, company type and Credit balance.
- Add-on works in Free Flight but not Career: Career compatibility is separate from normal aircraft compatibility and must be provided for that model.