Read this before you switch
Orbit cannot import your flights. Not from App in the Air, not from anywhere — there is no importer yet. Moving a logbook across means typing it in.
If you exported before 19 October 2024, you have a file — but Orbit cannot read it yet, so it is a reference to type from rather than something to upload. If you did not, the data is gone and there is no way to retrieve it from anyone. That is the case this site can actually help with.
It is less work than it sounds: three fields per flight — where from, where to, and when. Orbit derives the distance, the hours, the countries, the continents and every milestone from those. The method for rebuilding a history is written up in full.
The free tier holds 15 flights, so you can find out whether you like it before deciding whether to carry the rest across.
Orbit and App in the Air, row by row
Including the rows Orbit loses. A table where one side wins everything is an advert, and you would be right not to believe it.
| Orbit | App in the Air | |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Partly.Android. iPhone in development. | No.Withdrawn from all stores. |
| Log flights from any date | Yes.Any date, back to your first. | No.The app is gone. |
| Import from another app | No.Nothing yet — flights are typed in. | No.No |
| Adds flights from your email | No.No | Yes.It did this well. |
| Live tracking and delay alerts | No.It's a logbook, not a tracker. | Yes.Yes |
| 3D globe of your flights | Yes.Real orthographic projection, drag to spin. | Partly.A flat map and stats. |
| Works offline | Yes.All 8,801 airports on device. | Not checked.Not checked |
| Export your data | Partly.CSV, on Pro. | No.The export window closed in Oct 2024. |
| Works without an account | Yes.Guest-first. Sign in only to sync. | No.No |
| Free tier | Partly.15 flights, then Pro. | Partly.Free tier, then Premium. |
| Price | Yes.$19.90/year or $49.90 once. | No.No longer sold. |
| Ads | Yes.None, on any tier. | Not checked.Not checked |
Checked against App in the Air’s own site and public sources on . Anything marked “not checked” is exactly that — not a quiet no.
What App in the Air does better
- It read your email and added flights by itself. Orbit has nothing like that — you type flights in.
- It tracked flights live, with gate and delay information. Orbit does not track anything.
- It ran on iPhone as well as Android, which Orbit does not yet.
What Orbit does better
- It still exists.
- Your logbook lives on your device and exports as CSV, so the next shutdown is not your problem.
- The globe is the point rather than a side panel.
Asked and answered
Is App in the Air coming back?
There has been no sign of it. The app was pulled from the App Store, Google Play and the Samsung Galaxy Store on 19 September 2024, and the window to export your data closed on 19 October 2024.
Can I get my App in the Air data back?
Not from App in the Air. If you exported before 19 October 2024 you have the file you saved; otherwise the record is gone. Most of it can be rebuilt from your own email, loyalty statements and photo library.
Can Orbit import my App in the Air export?
No. Orbit has no importer at all yet — flights are entered by hand, three fields each, and everything else is computed. If you have the export file, it is a list to work from rather than something you can upload.
Is Orbit a replacement for App in the Air?
For the logbook half, yes: every flight you have taken, on a globe, with distance, hours, countries and badges. For the live-tracking half, no — Orbit does not track aircraft or send delay alerts.
What Orbit works out for you
You enter an airport pair and a date. Everything below is computed from the airports’ own coordinates — which is why entering a flight takes a few seconds rather than a form.
Start with the flights you remember.
The long ones first — they carry most of the distance and most of the milestones. Free for your first 15, no account needed, no ads on any tier.