Pacific Islands Simulation, better known to simmers as PacSim, has shared a new development preview of its upcoming Albuquerque International Sunport, KABQ, for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, and the project appears to be steadily taxiing toward the gate.
The latest preview focuses on the airport’s general aviation and cargo areas, which PacSim says are now complete. The developer has also been adding ground surface detail, airport vehicles, ground service equipment, and other small touches that help bring the New Mexico airport to life.
Albuquerque International Sunport is New Mexico’s main airport and sits at roughly 5,350 feet above sea level, giving virtual pilots a high-desert operating environment with the Sandia Mountains rising nearby. That combination makes KABQ a strong candidate for simmers who enjoy regional airline routes, cargo work, general aviation hops, and approaches with a bit of terrain-flavored drama.
PacSim’s earlier preview work showed progress on the main terminal, including custom details around the older terminal building, human figures, refueling stations, and ground service equipment. The newer update moves attention across the field, with the GA ramp, cargo apron, and support areas now getting their turn under the scenery microscope.
Preview images show weathered apron textures, a detailed cargo facility with branded vehicles, the Atlantic Aviation FBO, and even the Eclipse Aerospace maintenance facility. Those are the kinds of local details that make an airport feel less like a painted slab and more like a place where crews actually spilled coffee at 5:12 in the morning.
The terminal side also appears to be receiving plenty of attention, with roadway traffic, shuttle buses, delivery vehicles, and a busier curbside environment. Add the Sandia Mountains in the distance, and KABQ starts to look like a proper Southwest destination rather than just another waypoint in the FMC.
There is still more work ahead. PacSim has not announced a release date or pricing yet, and the remaining development list includes Kirtland Air Force Base, the main terminal interior, night lighting, runway work, and taxiway work.
For now, Albuquerque sim fans have another promising airport to keep on radar. Between its elevation, desert setting, airline traffic, cargo presence, and military neighbor on the field, KABQ could become a versatile stop for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 pilots looking to add more Southwest operations to their logbooks.
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