On January 8, 2026, MK Studios (MKS) released Rome Fiumicino v2 for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and 2024, a decade after their Aerosoft-commissioned Mega Airport Rome featured in FS MAGAZIN 1/2016 (“Simulatus Populusque Romanum”). The first edition supported FSX, FSX:SE, and Prepar3D v1–v3, later extended to P3D v4 (v1.04). Time to head for the Eternal City.
MK Studios on Discord, January 7, 2026
We’re less than 24 hours from release, so it’s worth taking a look back in time!
Rome was our second commercial project after Bologna. Development started in 2014 and it was released in October 2015—over 10 years ago!
This was shortly after Lockheed Martin Prepar3D v3 premiered, the same year the Airbus A350 entered service and the Boeing 737 MAX rolled out. Quite a while, right?
If you look at the screenshots, you’ll notice how much has changed. Atmosphere, lighting, and detail have evolved significantly. Moving away from 32-bit truly changed flight simulation. Just as MSFS 2020 did, MSFS 2024 pushes even further.
Reality
About three million people live in the Metropolitan City of Rome (capital of Italy and seat of the Lazio region), roughly 20 km east of the Mediterranean in the northern third of the “boot.” Rome encloses Vatican City, the smallest sovereign state at just under half a square kilometer—home to the Holy See and the Pope, uniquely using Latin as an official language.
The economy centers on finance, services, crafts, wholesale and retail trade, and manufacturing (including textiles), alongside the film industry in “Cinecittà” and tourism. In 2024, Vatican News reported 22 million visitors who accumulated about 51 million overnight stays in the city.
Rome is a major transport hub: seven railway stations (largest: Roma Termini) and the A90 (Grande Raccordo Anulare – GRA) ring motorway connecting to national highways. Traffic is chronically congested, with frequent severe and sometimes fatal accidents due to speeding and reckless driving; since mid‑January 2025, the historic center has a 30 km/h limit.
Leonardo da Vinci Airport
Rome Fiumicino (IATA: FCO, ICAO: LIRF) traces its origins to the 1930s. An initial 1939 plan tied the airport to the “Universale di Roma” district commissioned by Mussolini for the 1942 World’s Fair, abandoned due to WWII. In 1947, the current Fiumicino site was chosen.
Before Fiumicino opened, Rome Ciampino (1926) and Rome Urbe (1928, then with seaplane ops on the Tiber) handled traffic. Urbe never became a scheduled hub and today serves GA and business aviation. Ciampino, Rome’s main post‑war airport in the 1950s, is now a base for low‑cost carriers like Ryanair and Wizz.
By 1956, Fiumicino’s Runway 1 (now 16R/34L) and Runway 2 (07/25) were complete. In 1958, the first terminal (today’s T3) was commissioned to be ready for the 1960 Olympics—only partially achieved; airlines migrated from Ciampino in mid‑January 1961.
Runway equipment and approach aids
| Runway | ILS | RNP | VOR/DME | Approach lighting | TDZ | REIL | PAPI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07 | — | Yes | Yes | HIALS | — | — | Left |
| 16L | CAT IIIb | Yes | — | CALVERT HIGH | Yes | — | Left/Right |
| 16R | CAT IIIb | Yes | — | CALVERT HIGH | Yes | — | Left/Right |
| 25 | CAT I | Yes | Yes | HIALS | — | — | Left/Right |
| 34L | CAT I | Yes | Yes | HIALS | — | — | Left/Right |
| 34R | CAT I | Yes | — | CALVERT HIGH | Yes | — | Left/Right |
Simultaneous operations are possible on 16L/16R and 34L/34R.
The OSTIA OST DVOR/DME (114.90 MHz) sits at the intersection of 16L/34R and 07/25, supporting departures and arrivals and serving as a node for lower airways L5, L44, M126, and Q160.
Access is via the A91 motorway and Leonardo Express trains, which terminate on a three‑track surface station just southeast of T3. The airport is named after Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519).
Current terminals and stands: T1 with 42 stands (37 jetways), T3 with 21 (17 jetways), West Satellite with 13 jetway stands, and T5 with 20 remote stands. Northeast of T1 are 28 additional stands. The cargo area south of RWY 25 threshold has five stands. Very large aircraft like the A380 use 503, 505, 507, 606, 607, 608, and 609, where dual jetways are available.
Operator Aeroporti di Roma reported for 2024: 48,879,038 passengers, 271,580 tonnes of cargo, and 308,783 movements to Assaeroporti. 102 airlines currently operate at Fiumicino. While the operator doesn’t publish destinations, Google’s AI estimates roughly 240 destinations in 76 countries.
Simulation
Purchase links:
• MSFS 2020: MK Studios LIRF Rome Fiumicino v2
• MSFS 2024: MK Studios LIRF Rome Fiumicino v2
• Cross‑upgrade discount available.
Download and installation were quick and uneventful. The 1.01 GB package expands to 1.77 GB—remarkably lean for an airport of this scale.
The scenery blends seamlessly with MSFS 2020 and 2024. Approach lighting, DVOR/DME, and ground‑based aids match the real airport, as do the myriad ground markings and signage. Buildings align with aerial imagery.
Architecture is a striking mix: cabins and office containers sit beside simple huts and both older and modern buildings. The four piers of T1, T3, and the West Satellite each display different design eras. A distinctive feature: the construction yard at the cargo complex stores sand and gravel and appears to produce concrete.
Stands feature rich ground details—tow bars, containers—while the finely modeled jetways deserve a closer look. People Mover and Leonardo Express trains are animated, as are landside and airside vehicles. Flags move too, if a bit choppy.
The tower, in Italy’s typical red‑and‑white livery, sports numerous structural details and a rotating white‑white airport beacon.
Pier interiors are sparsely furnished yet visible from stands. Multilevel terminal approach roads look great. On the landside, elevated, tunnel‑like walkways connect two admin buildings, the station, T1, T3, and parking structures.
One visible omission: the current construction at stands 506, 508, and 518 is not depicted—the stands are usable.
GSX Pro Profile
“Deekz97” posted official GSX Pro profiles on the MKS Discord, with variants for GSX Pro’s own VDGS and for Nool. If using GSX Pro’s VDGS, delete the folder “noolaero VDGS LIRF” at …\mkstudios-airport-lirf-rome\SimObjects\Landmarks.
Additionally available:
Add-ons
• GSX Pro Cobus livery for Fiumicino by “DeeKz97” (MKS Discord)
• “Lido di Ostia” scenery for MSFS 2020 by “Nimic” on flightsim.to—a coastal settlement visible on south arrivals
Both are recommended.
Conclusion
Once again, MK Studios delivers: a highly detailed, lively airport, error‑free and performant. Strong buy recommendation—and a gold medal from FS Reviews.
Bert Groner
Information
• Rome–Fiumicino Airport (Wikipedia)
• Flight navigation charts:
Freeware: ENAV eAIP Italy (free registration): https://www.enav.it/en/what-we-do/we-create-solutions-for-international-markets/aeronautical-information
Payware: Navigraph (subscription, optional nav data) https://navigraph.com
