How do I turn off parked or static aircraft in MSFS 2024?
Set Ground Aircraft Density to zero in MSFS 2024, identify aircraft that remain, keep live traffic if wanted and reduce busy-airport load.
In Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, open Settings, search for Ground Aircraft Density, and set it to 0. This removes simulator-generated parked aircraft from gates and stands. If aircraft remain after reloading the airport, they are live, AI or multiplayer traffic, an external injector, or static models built into the scenery.
How do I change Ground Aircraft Density?
- Open Settings. Use the main menu or pause an active flight.
- Search for the setting. Enter
Ground Aircraft Densityin the settings search box. This is safer than relying on a fixed menu path, which can vary between platforms and updates. When browsing manually, look under the Traffic or Airport Life options. - Choose the density. Set it to 0, sometimes displayed as 0%, or use a low value if you want a few occupied stands.
- Apply the change. If already-loaded aircraft remain, reload the flight or departure airport. Restart MSFS 2024 if reloading does not refresh them.
Do not confuse Ground Aircraft Density with airport vehicle density, worker density or the main AI and live-traffic controls. Those govern separate parts of airport activity.
What Ground Aircraft Density setting should I use?
If the control uses a 0–100 scale, 10–25 is a practical starting point for some parked traffic without heavily crowding a large airport.
| Setting | Use it when | Expected result |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | You want clear stands, lower load or use an injector | No simulator-generated parked aircraft |
| 10–25 | You want light gate activity | A small selection of occupied stands |
| 26–50 | You have performance headroom | Busier stands and greater rendering load |
| Above 50 | Visual density takes priority | Crowded gates and a higher risk of stand conflicts |
Why are aircraft still parked after setting it to zero?
The density slider controls only MSFS-generated parked aircraft, not every source that can place an aeroplane at a gate.
| Aircraft source | How to recognise it | How to remove it |
|---|---|---|
| Live or offline AI traffic | Aircraft taxi, use lights, arrive or depart | Disable the selected live or AI source |
| Multiplayer traffic | Other players' aircraft, sometimes with nameplates | Turn off multiplayer traffic |
| External traffic injector | Aircraft appear while the injector is running | Stop it or change its ground-traffic settings |
| Airport scenery models | The same aircraft remain in identical positions after each reload | Use the scenery's no-static option or disable the airport package |
Reload the airport first, then disable live or offline AI, multiplayer and external injection one at a time. Aircraft still fixed in place are normally part of the scenery. Use the add-on's supplied static or no-static configuration; deleting individual files can break the airport or be reversed by an update.
A common mistake is running generated parked aircraft alongside an injector, producing duplicate liveries or two aircraft on one stand. Set Ground Aircraft Density to zero and follow our guidance on avoiding duplicate traffic when adding AI aircraft.
Can I remove parked aircraft but keep live traffic?
Yes. Leave live traffic enabled and set Ground Aircraft Density to 0. This does not remove airborne AI, although a live aircraft can still occupy a gate after landing or while preparing to depart.
Completely empty stands require live or offline AI, multiplayer and traffic injectors to be disabled too. If live flights disappear unexpectedly, check the online and data settings that supply live traffic rather than raising Ground Aircraft Density.
Will turning off parked aircraft improve FPS?
It can improve performance at busy airports because fewer aircraft models, textures and lights need to be rendered, reducing CPU, GPU and VRAM pressure. The gain depends on the airport, traffic sources and the system's limiting component.
If performance remains poor at zero density, reduce active AI or live traffic separately. Moving aircraft create a different workload from scenery-built static models; our guide to traffic settings that affect MSFS frame rates explains which controls to lower without removing unrelated airport activity.