For console captains, the immersion of flying a high-fidelity PMDG airliner often hits a wall the moment they look at the exterior. While PC users have enjoyed near-infinite customization through the Operations Center, Xbox Series X|S and Cloud Gaming users have largely been stuck in a monochromatic world, forced to fly the generic “PMDG House” livery.
That gap is now closing significantly, with PMDG releasing 10 new regional livery packs for their 737 and 777 lineups on the Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Marketplace, specifically targeting the console community.
Rather than making users to download massive global packs that eat up precious storage space, PMDG has opted for a geographical strategy. The new packs are organized by region (e.g., “Europe,” “Americas,” “Asia”), allowing users to only buy and install the operators relevant to their usual flying grounds.
This covers the entire range of airframes across both the PMDG 737 and 777 product lines.
The price of admission
The release addresses a major feature request, but it also highlights a lingering point of friction between the developer and the console community: the cost.
While PC users who purchase directly from PMDG can download dozens of liveries for free via the Operations Center, Xbox users must pay for these packs. PMDG states that the packs are listed at the “lowest permitted price” on the Marketplace.
The developer has historically cited Microsoft’s Marketplace infrastructure as the reason for this, noting that the platform does not easily support free content distribution of this type without specific bundling or licensing hurdles. While this provides a functional solution for Xbox users desperate for real-world airlines, it reinforces the “two-tiered” experience where console users essentially pay a premium for content that is considered standard on PC.
Who needs this?
It is important to clarify that if you are a standard PC user with access to your local files, you do not need to buy these. You can continue to use the PMDG Operations Center to install these exact liveries for free.
However, this release is critical for:
- Xbox Series X|S Pilots: Who have no access to external installation tools.
- Cloud Gaming Users: Users on services like GeForce Now technically run the PC version but lack file access, making these Marketplace packs their only route to airline liveries.
Full Content List
Below is the breakdown of the new regional packs. Note: Ensure you own the specific airframe (777F, 777-300ER, etc.) before purchasing the associated livery pack.
PMDG 777-200LR (77L)
- Africa: Ceiba Intercontinental, Equatorial Guinea Gov, Ethiopian
- Asia: Air India, Azerbaijan Airlines, Emirates, Etihad, Iraqi Airways, Pakistan International, Qatar Airways, Turkmenistan Airlines
- Europe: Air Austral
- North America: Air Canada, Aviation Link, Delta Airlines
- South America: Crystal Luxury Air
PMDG 777 Freighter (77F)
- Asia: Air China Cargo, ANA Cargo, China Airlines Cargo, China Cargo, China Southern Cargo, DHL Express (9V-DHB), Emirates SkyCargo, Etihad Cargo, EVA Air Cargo, Korean Air Cargo, Qatar Airways Cargo, Saudia Cargo, Turkish Cargo
- Africa: Ethiopian Cargo
- Europe: AeroLogic, Air France Cargo, CMA CGM Air Cargo, DHL Air (UK), DHL Express (D-AALL), KLM Cargo, Lufthansa Cargo, Maersk, TNT
- North America: Atlas Air, DHL Express (Multiple), FedEx Express (Multiple), MSC Air Cargo
PMDG 777-300ER (77W)
- Africa: Ethiopian Airlines
- Asia: Air China, ANA, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, China Eastern, China Southern, Etihad, Emirates, Eva Air, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Philippine Airlines, Qatar Airways, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines
- Europe: Air France, British Airways, KLM, Swiss
- North America: Air Canada, American Airlines, Boeing (House), United Airlines
- South America: LATAM Airlines
PMDG 777-200ER (772)
- Africa: Air Peace, TAAG
- Asia: ANA, Asiana Airlines, El Al, Jin Air, Korean Air, MyWay Airlines, Nordwind Airlines, Pakistan International, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, Vietnam Airlines
- Europe: Air France, Alitalia, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, Euroatlantic Airways, KLM, KLM Asia, Lauda Air
- North America: Aeromexico, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Eastern Airlines, Omni Air International, United Airlines
PMDG 737-800 (738)
- Africa: Air Algerie, Mango, Rwandair
- Asia: 9 Air, Aeroflot, AFCOM, Air China, AJet, ANA, BBJ Malaysia, China Eastern, China Southern, El Al, Flydubai, Gama Aviation, Malaysia (Fictional), Pegasus
- Europe: Aeroitalia, Air Europa, Air Europa Express, Airseven, Airzena Georgian, ASL, Bluebird, Cargoair, Comair, Compass Cargo, FedEx, Jet2, KLM, Norwegian, Olympic, Poste Air Cargo, Prime Air, Ryanair (Multiple variants), SAS, Sterling European, Supernova, Transavia, TUI, TUIfly
- North America: 7Air, AeroMexico, Alaska, American, Delta, DHL, Flair, Prime Air, Seven Three Seven (BBJ), Southwest, Sun Country, Sunwing, Swoop, United, WestJet
- Oceania: QANTAS, Virgin Australia
- South America: Aerolineas Argentinas, Avelo *, Mercado Livre
