Asobo Studio released Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 on 19 November 2024 as a separate product from the 2020 sim, built around a career mode rather than free flight alone. The Standard Edition ships more than 65 aircraft and the world engine draws on over 500 TIN cities, more than 100,000 square kilometres of countryside photogrammetry, roughly 1.5 billion buildings and close to 3 trillion trees. Career progression runs through more than 20 certifications, each opening specialisations from skydive drops up to heavy cargo.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 features distinct areas with increasing difficulty. This guide covers every major location in progression order: what to do, what to get, and when to move on. For the step-by-step path, see our walkthrough.
Area Progression Order
| Order | Location | Difficulty | Key Rewards | Recommended Build |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Courchevel Altiport | Attempt after the PPL, in a light single | Slope landing practice, mountain wind handling, a benchmark for approach accuracy | Search and Rescue |
| 2 | Tenzing-Hillary Airport, Lukla | Intermediate, with turboprop or STOL experience | High-altitude performance practice, one-way runway technique, bush and cargo contract scenery | Search and Rescue |
| 3 | Innsbruck Airport | Intermediate to advanced, best after the Instrument Rating | Circling approach practice, mountain wave and turbulence handling, jet operations into tight terrain | Skydive |
| 4 | Paro International Airport | Advanced, airliner or turboprop | Valley navigation, hand-flown visual arrivals, high terrain awareness practice | Skydive |
| 5 | Gustaf III Airport, Saint Barthelemy | Intermediate, light twin or turboprop | Short-field technique, crosswind landings, charter contracts in island scenery | Skydive |
Courchevel Altiport: Starting Area
A short sloping strip in the French Alps with no go-around option once committed. It is one of the handcrafted airports carried into the 2024 sim and the standard test of whether your approach discipline is real.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Attempt after the PPL, in a light single |
| Key Rewards | Slope landing practice, mountain wind handling, a benchmark for approach accuracy |
| Recommended Build | Search and Rescue |
| Key Equipment | Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX |
What to Do Here
- Learn the basics of Career mode with certifications. This is where you practice without heavy punishment.
- Collect starting resources and your first equipment upgrade.
- Clear all main content before moving to Tenzing-Hillary Airport, Lukla.
- If you're struggling, read our beginner's guide.
Tenzing-Hillary Airport, Lukla: Early Game
The Himalayan strip at roughly 2,845 metres elevation, with a pronounced upslope runway and terrain on the approach. Density altitude changes every performance number you thought you knew.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Intermediate, with turboprop or STOL experience |
| Key Rewards | High-altitude performance practice, one-way runway technique, bush and cargo contract scenery |
| Recommended Build | Search and Rescue |
| Key Equipment | Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX |
What to Do Here
- Focus on mastering Specialisations and mission payouts. It's critical from this point on.
- Farm for Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX if you don't have it yet.
- Complete all objectives for maximum rewards.
- Prepare for the difficulty spike in Innsbruck Airport.
Innsbruck Airport: Mid Game
An Austrian valley airport hemmed in by mountains where the approach requires a curved arrival rather than a straight-in. One of the handcrafted airports and a genuine airline-level challenge in weather.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Intermediate to advanced, best after the Instrument Rating |
| Key Rewards | Circling approach practice, mountain wave and turbulence handling, jet operations into tight terrain |
| Recommended Build | Skydive |
| Key Equipment | Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX |
What to Do Here
- This is the main skill check. Bring an optimized build.
- Cessna 172 Skyhawk becomes accessible here. Prioritize getting it.
- Master Aircraft wear and maintenance for the boss encounters.
- Check our boss guide if you get stuck.
Paro International Airport: Late Game
The Bhutanese airport ringed by peaks, reached through a valley approach with manoeuvring all the way to short final. It is regularly listed among the hardest commercial arrivals in the world and it flies that way in the sim.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Advanced, airliner or turboprop |
| Key Rewards | Valley navigation, hand-flown visual arrivals, high terrain awareness practice |
| Recommended Build | Skydive |
| Key Equipment | Cessna 172 Skyhawk |
What to Do Here
- Full build optimization is expected by this point.
- Cessna 172 Skyhawk should be your primary, fully upgraded.
- Companies and hired pilots mastery starts mattering here.
- Farm resources for the push into Gustaf III Airport, Saint Barthelemy.
Gustaf III Airport, Saint Barthelemy: Endgame
The Caribbean strip with a hill on the threshold and a beach at the far end, giving you a very short usable runway. Crosswinds are common and the approach descends steeply over a road.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Intermediate, light twin or turboprop |
| Key Rewards | Short-field technique, crosswind landings, charter contracts in island scenery |
| Recommended Build | Skydive |
| Key Equipment | Cessna 172 Skyhawk |
What to Do Here
- This is endgame. Best-in-slot gear and a perfected build are mandatory.
- See our boss guide for endgame fight strategies.
- The reward loop: clear content → upgrade → push harder content.
- Experiment with Charter Service VIP for variety once you've mastered the meta.
Exploration Tips
- Clear areas in order: Courchevel Altiport → Tenzing-Hillary Airport, Lukla → Innsbruck Airport → Paro International Airport → Gustaf III Airport, Saint Barthelemy. Skipping areas means missing resources you'll need later.
- Check every corner: Hidden caches and secrets are often in non-obvious locations.
- Match your equipment: Some areas favor different equipment types.
- Read the walkthrough: Our walkthrough provides exact progression milestones for each area.
- Don't rush: Clearing an area fully gives more resources than speedrunning two areas.
More Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Guides
- Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Overview
- Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Best Builds
- Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Tier List
- Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Walkthrough
- Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Beginner's Guide
- Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Tips & Tricks
- Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Weapons Guide
- Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Combat Guide
- Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Boss Guide
- Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Crafting Guide
- Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Classes & Characters
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