Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Standard is the core package with 70 aircraft and 150 airports. Deluxe adds 10 aircraft and five airports, Premium Deluxe adds another 15 aircraft, and Aviator includes Premium Deluxe plus 30 Microsoft-published Marketplace aircraft released between 2021 and 2024.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 editions compared
| Edition | Total aircraft | Total airports | What it adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | 70 | 150 | Base edition |
| Deluxe | 80 | 155 | 10 aircraft and five airports beyond Standard |
| Premium Deluxe | 95 | 160 | 15 additional aircraft beyond Deluxe |
| Aviator | 125 | 160 | Everything in Premium Deluxe plus 30 Microsoft-published Marketplace aircraft |
The airport totals are cumulative. Aviator does not increase the 160-airport total over Premium Deluxe; its major addition is the 30-aircraft Marketplace fleet.
What comes with Standard Edition?
Standard is the baseline simulator: 70 aircraft and 150 airports. It is the sensible starting point if you want the complete core experience without paying for a larger aircraft roster or extra handcrafted airports.
Microsoft’s launch announcement listed Standard as available through PC Game Pass and Game Pass Ultimate when the simulator launched on November 19, 2024. Storefront availability and subscription terms can change, so check the current Microsoft listing for your region before buying.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →#1 Best Overall
- MICROSOFT FLIGHT SIMULATOR 2024: Explore the world with our largest fleet of aircraft and take simulation to new heights while pursuing your aviation career within Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
- STANDARD EDITION: Includes over 65 aircraft and 150 handcrafted airports
- FLY WITH PURPOSE: Pursue your aviation career throughout the world with dynamically generated missions ranging from Medevac and Search & Rescue to Aerial Firefighting and Passenger Transport
- CHALLENGE LEAGUE: Compete against other pilots in the iconic Reno and Red Bull Air Races
- ADVANCED SIMULATION: Enhanced physics and aircraft systems and a groundbreaking flight planner create an unparalleled simulation experience
What does Deluxe Edition add?
Deluxe contains all Standard content, then raises the totals to 80 aircraft and 155 airports. That means 10 extra aircraft and five extra airports, making it an incremental upgrade rather than a fundamentally different simulator.
Who should choose Deluxe?
- Choose it when one or more of its additional aircraft or airports matter to you.
- Choose Standard instead when you mainly want the core simulator and do not have a specific Deluxe aircraft or airport in mind.
What does Premium Deluxe Edition add?
Premium Deluxe includes the Deluxe package and reaches 95 aircraft and 160 airports. It adds 15 aircraft beyond Deluxe; the aircraft roster is therefore the main reason to move from Deluxe to Premium Deluxe, while the airport increase is five over Deluxe.
Rank #2
- MICROSOFT FLIGHT SIMULATOR 2024: Explore the world with our largest fleet of aircraft and take simulation to new heights while pursuing your aviation career within Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
- PREMIUM DELUXE EDITION: Includes everything from the Standard Edition plus 25 additional aircraft and 10 additional handcrafted international airports
- FLY WITH PURPOSE: Pursue your aviation career throughout the world with dynamically generated missions ranging from Medevac and Search & Rescue to Aerial Firefighting and Passenger Transport
- CHALLENGE LEAGUE: Compete against other pilots in the iconic Reno and Red Bull Air Races
- ADVANCED SIMULATION: Enhanced physics and aircraft systems and a groundbreaking flight planner create an unparalleled simulation experience
Who should choose Premium Deluxe?
Premium Deluxe is aimed at players who want a substantially broader aircraft selection and are willing to pay for that roster. Before purchasing, compare the aircraft included in the current regional listing with the types you actually fly, because the headline total alone does not indicate whether your preferred aircraft is included.
What does Aviator Edition add?
Aviator includes everything in Premium Deluxe plus the entire fleet of 30 Microsoft-published Marketplace aircraft developed for Microsoft Flight Simulator between 2021 and 2024. Its total is 125 aircraft and 160 airports.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsRank #3
- Universal, all-in-one design including throttle quadrant, trim wheel & yoke
- True to life 180° yoke handle rotation with non-contact hall effect sensor
- Modular throttle quadrant with customizable lever handles and buttons
- Integrated rudder and brake controls at your fingertips
- Full color flight management display to learn and configure the system
Why Aviator has the same airport count as Premium Deluxe
Aviator is a completeness upgrade for aircraft, not another airport tier. Premium Deluxe and Aviator both list 160 airports; Aviator’s extra value is the 30 Marketplace aircraft added to the 95-aircraft Premium Deluxe roster.
Who should choose Aviator?
- Choose Aviator if you want the largest packaged aircraft collection and would otherwise buy several of the 30 Marketplace aircraft separately.
- Choose Premium Deluxe if the Marketplace fleet is not important to you, since it already provides the same 160-airport total.
Which edition is best for you?
- Start with Standard if you want the core simulator, use PC Game Pass or Game Pass Ultimate, or do not yet know which aircraft you need.
- Move to Deluxe only when its 10 additional aircraft or five additional airports are worth the difference to you.
- Pick Premium Deluxe when the additional 15 aircraft over Deluxe are the deciding factor.
- Pick Aviator when you want Premium Deluxe plus all 30 Microsoft-published Marketplace aircraft from 2021–2024.
The most useful comparison is not simply the edition name: check the exact aircraft you want, then compare the cumulative totals and the extra airport count.
Rank #4
- MICROSOFT FLIGHT SIMULATOR 2024: Explore the world with our largest fleet of aircraft and take simulation to new heights while pursuing your aviation career within Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.
- PREMIUM DELUXE STEELBOOK EDITION: Includes the Jumbo SteelBook case, custom pilot's lanyard with Standard Edition digital game code, and a message from the developer.
- FLY WITH PURPOSE: Pursue your aviation career throughout the world with dynamically generated missions ranging from Medevac and Search & Rescue to Aerial Firefighting and Passenger Transport.
- CHALLENGE LEAGUE: Compete against other pilots in the iconic Reno and Red Bull Air Races.
- ADVANCED SIMULATION: Enhanced physics and aircraft systems and a groundbreaking flight planner create an unparalleled simulation experience.
What if you own Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020)?
Owners of Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) Deluxe Edition or Premium Deluxe Edition receive the additional aircraft and airports unique to those editions automatically in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. This legacy entitlement applies to the qualifying 2020 editions; it does not turn every 2020 purchase into a higher 2024 edition.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Are the complete aircraft lists shown here?
The edition summaries establish the cumulative totals and the Aviator Marketplace inclusion, but a total does not identify every individual aircraft. For a purchase decision based on a particular model, open the current Microsoft or Xbox store listing for your platform and region and verify the itemized contents before checkout. Also confirm whether the offer is a digital code or another product format.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Best Value
- Take to the skies and experience the joy of flight in the next generation of Microsoft Flight Simulator. Microsoft Flight Simulator includes 20 highly detailed planes with unique flight models and 30 handcrafted airports.
- Explore the world. Travel the world in amazing detail with over 2 million cities, 1.5 billion buildings, real mountains, roads, trees, rivers, animals, traffic, and more.
- Test your skill. Fly day or night with live real-time weather including accurate wind speed and direction, temperature, humidity, rain, and lightning.
- This version only plays on Xbox Series X and is optimized for Xbox Series X. Games optimized for Xbox Series X will showcase unparalleled load-times, heightened visuals, and steadier framerates.
- Get Microsoft Flight Simulator, plus access to over 100 other high-quality games for one low monthly price with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
Bottom line
Standard is the core value choice at 70 aircraft and 150 airports. Deluxe adds a modest 10-aircraft and five-airport step. Premium Deluxe is primarily an aircraft-roster upgrade to 95 aircraft and 160 airports. Aviator is the aircraft-completeness tier: it keeps Premium Deluxe and adds 30 Microsoft-published Marketplace aircraft, reaching 125 aircraft without adding more airports.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
