FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AKRON, OH – March 30, 2026 – Independent developer Chris Kuhn, founder of Casey Jones Labs, is excited to announce that SkyChart: Airline Executive is officially cleared for takeoff on Steam Early Access in Q2 2026. A deep, historically-driven grand strategy simulation, SkyChart is the spiritual successor to the classic Aerobiz series, spanning 90 years of aviation history from 1930 to 2020.
While many modern management sims focus on micro-managing airport floor tiles, SkyChart: Airline Executive puts players in the role of a global CEO focusing on macro-strategy. Players must navigate diplomatic tensions, manage era-specific fleets, and survive a century of real-world history—including world wars, oil crises, and global pandemics—while outmaneuvering ruthless AI rivals.
“I’ve wanted to play a modern version of the grand-strategy airline sims I grew up with for 30 years,” says Chris Kuhn. “SkyChart is built for the players who want to manage a global empire, not just a single terminal. It’s about the evolution of flight—from the DC-3 and the Constellation to the 747 and the A380—and the strategic grit it takes to keep an airline profitable across nine decades.”
The game is currently available as a playable Alpha on itch.io, allowing enthusiasts to get an early look at the core systems. The upcoming Steam Early Access release will introduce refined tutorial systems, professional QA, and Steam-specific features such as Achievements and Cloud Saves.
Key Features:
- A Century of Aviation: Progress through four distinct historical eras (1930–2020), each with unique economic challenges and technological breakthroughs.
- Historical Fleet Management: Command 33 legendary aircraft, including the DC-3, 707, and A380, with realistic maintenance cycles and retirement penalties.
- Global Expansion: Build routes between 150 real-world cities across 7 regions, utilizing Great Circle routing and realistic geographic profiles.
- Dynamic World Events: Survive over 60 scripted historical events and natural disasters that shift global travel demand and fuel prices in real-time.
- Competitive CEO AI: Compete against 35+ AI rival airlines that adapt to your growth, adjust their pricing, and battle for limited airport slots.
- Deep Analytics & Modern UI: Optimized for data-driven decisions with performance dashboards, sparkline charts, and full controller/Steam Deck support.
- Casey Jones Labs (Founded by Chris Kuhn)
- Akron, Ohio
- Alpha Live on itch.io; Steam Early Access coming Q2 2026
- PC (Windows, macOS, Linux), Steam Deck
- caseyjoneslabs.com
About Casey Jones Labs
Founded by Chris Kuhn, Casey Jones Labs is a solo indie studio dedicated to reviving the "Golden Age" of strategy and simulation games. By combining deep historical accuracy with modern data analytics, the studio aims to provide complex, rewarding experiences for fans of classic tycoon and grand strategy titles.