Satellite Networks

Qatar Airways announces Starlink first

Qatar Airways announces Starlink first

Qatar Airways says it has become the first airline to operate Starlink-equipped Boeing 787-9 aircraft globally. The carrier has also completed Starlink rollout across its Boeing 787-8 sub-fleet in seven months, bringing the total number of its Starlink-equipped widebody aircraft to 150.

Qatar Airways says it remains on track to complete the Starlink rollout across its Boeing 787 fleet by the end of 2026. The airline now operates the world’s first and largest Starlink-equipped Boeing 777, Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 fleets.

By building a Starlink-connected journey at a scale unmatched by any other widebody operator, Qatar Airways says it is bringing passengers closer to a future where travelling no longer means stepping away from the digital world, offering on-board Wi-Fi speeds of up to 500 Mbps.

Since launching Starlink connectivity onboard in October 2024,  the company claims that more than 23 million passengers have connected to what it calls the fastest Wi-Fi in the sky across over 86,000 of its flights.

What it describes as the fastest and most ambitious Starlink widebody installation programme in aviation history has now surpassed 83% completion. There are up to 323 Starlink-flights operating daily.

According to some estimates, about 40 airlines have committed to high-speed in-flight Wi-Fi powered by SpaceX’s low-Earth-orbit constellation. Reports suggest that 16 airlines have actually installed such systems so far. They include Dubai carrier Emirates, which In April completed the first installation of next-generation Starlink Wi-Fi on its flagship Airbus A380.



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