Learn what handcrafted airports are in Microsoft Flight Simulator, how they differ from generic scenery, and why edition content matters.
In Microsoft Flight Simulator, handcrafted airports are locations whose terminals, towers, signs, ground markings and other features have been modelled specifically to match the real airport. In Microsoft’s edition lists, they are bespoke official scenery rather than generic, procedurally assembled airports; they are not necessarily equivalent to separately installed third-party add-ons.
What does handcrafted airport scenery change?
A handcrafted airport uses location-specific models and placement instead of relying mainly on the simulator’s reusable building library. The concept applies to both Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, although the included airports and content-delivery systems differ.
Depending on the airport, handcrafted scenery may provide:
- Custom terminal, tower, hangar and maintenance-building models.
- Airport-specific aprons, taxiways, parking positions, markings and signs.
- Bespoke jetways, lighting, service roads, clutter and nearby landmarks.
- Materials, roof shapes and building layouts that resemble the real location.
This is not a fixed feature checklist. One handcrafted airport may include detailed terminal interiors and extensive landside scenery, while another concentrates on the airside buildings and layout. Our breakdown of MSFS 2020 airport tiers and editions explains how Microsoft used the term in that simulator’s original packages.
Photogrammetry or sharp aerial imagery alone does not make an airport handcrafted. Those technologies can improve the surrounding area and ground textures while the airport itself still uses generic buildings.
Are handcrafted airports more accurate than generic airports?
Handcrafted airports are usually more visually recognisable than generic airports, but the label is not a guarantee of perfect or up-to-date accuracy. Construction work, changed taxiways, new stands and terminal extensions can make even bespoke scenery look dated.
| Scenery type | How it is built | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Generic airport | Airport data combined with reusable buildings and objects | The layout may work, but the buildings can bear little resemblance to reality |
| Official handcrafted airport | Location-specific scenery supplied through an edition or official content package | Quality varies, and the model may represent an older airport layout |
| Third-party custom airport | A separately installed freeware or commercial scenery package | Accuracy, performance and compatibility depend on the individual add-on |
Visual detail and operational data also age separately. A handcrafted terminal does not ensure that every parking stand, instrument procedure, taxi sign or ATC instruction is correct. It does not automatically include working interiors, real-world branding or custom ground-service behaviour either.
Which handcrafted airports are included?
The included handcrafted-airport list depends on the simulator generation, edition, edition upgrade and optional official content you own. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 should not be assumed to have identical lists.
In MSFS 2020, different editions include different airport packages, while World Updates and other official content can add more. MSFS 2024 has its own editions, entitlements and content library. The dependable way to check a particular airport is to search your simulator’s content library by its name or ICAO code and confirm that the relevant package is owned and available.
A mistake we see constantly is treating an airport’s appearance on the World Map as proof that its handcrafted package is loaded. The generic airport can remain available underneath, so the location may still appear and accept flights when the detailed package is missing, disabled or unavailable. Follow our troubleshooting steps for an airport that is absent or loading as generic scenery if that happens.
How can you tell if an airport is handcrafted?
The content-library entry is better evidence than a particular World Map symbol, because map presentation differs between MSFS versions and updates. At the airport, look for a recognisable terminal silhouette, unique tower and hangar models, site-specific signs and correctly arranged aprons rather than repeated stock buildings.
Do not judge from terminal interiors alone. Many good handcrafted airports focus on what pilots see from the apron, taxiways and approach, leaving inaccessible areas simple to protect performance.
Can third-party scenery replace a handcrafted airport?
Yes, third-party scenery can replace or override an official handcrafted airport, but two detailed packages for the same ICAO code often conflict. Common symptoms include duplicated terminals, flickering ground textures, overlapping markings, jetways passing through walls and uneven terrain.
- Identify every package for the airport. On PC, check both the
Communityfolder and the simulator’s official content library; consoles expose only the content-management options provided inside the simulator. - Keep one detailed airport active. Test the third-party version without another custom rendition of the same airport. Do not try to remove the simulator’s underlying generic airport data.
- Disable official scenery only when necessary. Some add-ons contain exclusions that handle the official airport correctly, while others require its separate package to be turned off. Our guidance on deciding when to disable an official MSFS 2024 airport covers that distinction.
- Restart and inspect the whole airfield. Check terminals, runway thresholds, taxiway joins, parking stands and terrain before assuming the conflict is solved.
Never delete protected files from the simulator’s main installation to remove a handcrafted airport. Use the content library, package controls or the third-party add-on’s own folder so the change can be reversed safely.