Learn what enhanced airports in MSFS 2024 include, how they differ from default scenery, and which editions provide 150, 155 or 160.
In Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, enhanced airports are selected airports given bespoke scenery rather than relying mainly on the simulator’s generic airport generation. They usually feature custom terminals and landmarks, more accurate ground layouts, markings and local detail. They are included highlights, not the only airports you can use.
What does “enhanced airport” mean?
“Enhanced” is a broad description rather than a separate airport type or setting inside MSFS 2024. Microsoft’s edition tables generally call them upgraded airports, while other material uses handcrafted airports.
These terms overlap, but they are not a strict quality scale. “Handcrafted” describes airport-specific scenery built with custom assets; “upgraded” commonly identifies the airports counted in each edition. World Updates and other official content can add handcrafted airports without changing an edition’s advertised airport count. We explain that wider category in our guide to how official handcrafted airports differ from generic scenery.
| Airport type | What you normally see | How it is supplied |
|---|---|---|
| Generic default airport | Shared building assets and largely procedural placement | Worldwide simulator coverage |
| Enhanced, upgraded or handcrafted airport | Airport-specific models, layouts, markings and local objects | Bundled with an edition or delivered through official content |
| Third-party airport | A separate developer’s replacement or major revision | Installed as an add-on |
What improvements do enhanced airports include?
An enhanced airport normally receives custom work in several visible areas:
- Bespoke terminal, hangar and control-tower models
- More deliberate stand, taxiway, apron and service-road placement
- Custom ground markings, signs, lighting and surface materials
- Recognisable local structures, equipment and static objects
- Better integration with the surrounding terrain and city scenery
The level of detail varies between airports. The label does not promise a perfect or continuously updated replica, and it does not guarantee that every recent taxiway or terminal alteration is represented. Instrument procedures and navigation data are also separate from the visual scenery package.
How many enhanced airports does each MSFS 2024 edition have?
The advertised upgraded-airport totals rise with the Deluxe and Premium Deluxe editions; Aviator uses the same airport selection as Premium Deluxe.
| MSFS 2024 edition | Upgraded airports | What changes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 150 | Base upgraded-airport collection |
| Deluxe | 155 | Adds five airports |
| Premium Deluxe | 160 | Adds another five |
| Aviator | 160 | Same airport collection as Premium Deluxe |
These figures are not the total number of usable airports. Every edition provides worldwide airport coverage, including many locations built mainly from shared assets. Our comparison of MSFS 2024 edition content explains what changes between packages, while the ICAO-coded list of Deluxe and Premium Deluxe additions identifies the ten extra airports.
Why does an enhanced airport sometimes look generic?
An airport that appears unexpectedly basic usually has an entitlement, streaming or scenery-priority problem rather than a graphics-setting problem.
- Confirm the ICAO code. Nearby airports can have similar names, and only the specifically listed airport receives the custom package.
- Check your edition. A Deluxe or Premium Deluxe airport will not appear as that enhanced version with a Standard-only entitlement.
- Check online content access. MSFS 2024 streams much of its world data, so interrupted services or a poor connection can prevent detailed assets from loading correctly.
- Inspect the content library. Make sure the relevant official package is available and enabled. Menu wording can change between simulator updates.
- Remove duplicate scenery temporarily. An older or incompatible add-on can override buildings, create double terminals or leave mismatched ground textures.
Do enhanced airports need third-party scenery?
No. The included enhanced version is intended to be usable without another airport package. Consider a third-party replacement only when that particular airport matters to you and the add-on offers a more recent layout, more specialised modelling or other features you value.
Running two versions of the same airport is a mistake we see constantly. If you add a replacement, keep only one airport package active and follow our guidance on preventing default and third-party scenery conflicts.