Airport Time Machine vs Hello Tower
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Airport Time Machine
Experience the evolution of air traffic control from a humble grass airfield in 1925 to a bustling international airport by 1970. Navigate historical aviation milestones and manage diverse aircraft across multiple eras.
- Air traffic control simulation
- Historical aviation eras
- Aircraft management
- Level progression
- Diverse aircraft types
- Steampunk era
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You are an air traffic controller in the year 1925. As time progresses, your small grass airfield grows up into a major international airport in 1970. Witness WW2, the flying mail service in the 1920's, the breaking of the sound barrier, and birth of the passenger jet. 60 different levels; 40 different aircraft types; 3 different eras, including future, plus an '1802 steampunk' era. The PC/Mac version of this game retails for $15. The price is reduced to build our App Store rating. GRAB THIS GAME NOW!!
Hello Tower
Experience realistic airport ground control with this simulation app. Manage aircraft movements, issue clearances, and handle emergencies across over 40 diverse airports. Progress from simple single-runway operations to complex hub airports.
- Airport ground maneuvering simulation
- Over 40 different airports
- Simplified and real-size airport versions
- Pushback, taxi, and take-off clearances
- Emergency handling
- Level-based progression
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Airport ground maneuvering simulation of more than 40 different airports including London Heathrow LHR, Philadelphia PHL, Miami Intl. MIA, Singapore, New York JFK, Las Vegas LAS, São Paulo GRU, Montreal YUL, Boston BOS, and many more. Different versions of airports included: - Play the simplified version, where the airport is scaled down to an easy playable experience. - Play the real thing. Here the whole airport is in real size displayed, where all your skills are required. Features - Give pushback, taxi, holding and take-off clearances. - Handle emergencies and try to release all flights on time in order to release the next level. From an easy single-runway operation at the beginning to demanding hub airports with multiple active runways where all your skills are required.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Airport Time Machine at none against Hello Tower's 5. Airport Time Machine also leads on iOS requirement (6.0 vs 18.0). Hello Tower's advantage is update cadence (every 9 days vs every 25 months) and chart position (#197 vs unranked). On rating, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Airport Time Machine costs $4.99 and Hello Tower $2.99 up front. Hello Tower sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Airport Time Machine asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.3 for Airport Time Machine against 4.4 for Hello Tower. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hello Tower has 66 ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 67% of Airport Time Machine's written reviews are positive against 71% of Hello Tower's.
Airport Time Machine ships an update every 25 months, Hello Tower every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Airport Time Machine | Hello Tower |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99 | $2.99 — better |
| Rating | 4.3 (9 ratings) | 4.4 (66 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 67.3% of reviews | 70.7% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 9 | 66 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 25 months | Every 9 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Free with in-app purchases — better |
| Best chart rank | — | #197 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 6.0 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 48 MB | 412 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Big Fat Simulations Inc. | Sascha Trachsel |
Customer experience
Airport Time Machine
Hello Tower
Bugs and requests
Airport Time Machine
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Hello Tower
Reported bugs
37 issues- Flight freezing on runway holding and turns
- Aircraft getting stuck and blocking routes
- 30-second departure timer disappearing
- Aircraft crashing with held aircraft on taxiway
- Levels not unlocking
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- Game freezes/crashes, especially at Heathrow
- Separation logic errors
- Aircraft not selectable
- Game hangs/freezes after updates
- New UI is confusing and unreadable
- Sounds missing after update
- Focus on aircraft and readability worsened
- Aircraft symbols obscured by labels
- Tapping messages only selects aircraft once
- Parking spots shown as available when occupied
- Planes crossing paths and getting stuck
- Aircraft becoming 'ghosts' blocking routes
- Runway timer resets to zero before 30 seconds
- Departure separation timer sometimes fails to appear
- Recent updates have made the game fiddly and difficult
- UI is worse after recent updates
- Levels changed after recent updates
- Game becomes unplayable after updates
- Aircraft roll with extreme speed
- UI for iPhones is terrible
- Previous version was better
- Custom game mode is buggy
- Some airport orientations are off
- Ground radars not oriented to true north
- Cannot make aircraft move
- Cannot park landed aircraft
- Game ends with blocked runway when it's not
- Impossible timings leading to penalties
- Aircraft launching in both directions on the same runway simultaneously
- Departure slot timer bug
- Aircraft on final approach not being able to be directed away
- Aircraft on runway preventing others from crossing
Requested features
23 requests- Add more airports (US, European, Asian, Indian cities)
- Add an endless/sandbox mode
- Add AI voice recognition and ATC dialogues
- Implement a tutorial or walk-through
- Add a 'continue game' or save progress option
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- Add more realistic separation rules and traffic patterns
- Improve UI and controls (smaller buttons, better organization)
- Add option to designate departure/arrival runways
- Add rejected takeoffs, emergency vehicles, emergency inbounds
- Add ability to call a go-around
- Allow custom stop points
- Add more sounds for aircraft
- Add a smaller tutorial airport
- Add day/night environment switching
- Add towing/pushback option for stuck aircraft
- Add Chinese language support
- Add more content/levels, possibly a sequel
- Improve graphics and aircraft dynamics
- Add music and better menu
- Add indication when flights actually depart
- Add beacon lights to taxiway hotspots
- Add more realistic taxi speeds and turnaround times
- Add runway vacation instructions
In-app purchases
Airport Time Machine
No in-app purchases
Hello Tower
- Hello Tower Test$0.99
- Airport Pack$0.99
- Sandbox test2 variants$0.99
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- Airport Pack$1.99
Questions
Is Airport Time Machine free?
Is Hello Tower free?
Which has better reviews, Airport Time Machine or Hello Tower?
Do Airport Time Machine or Hello Tower have ads?
Which is updated more often, Airport Time Machine or Hello Tower?
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