Prime Highlights
- Qatar Airways now has 150 Starlink-equipped widebody aircraft.
- It has become the first airline to operate a Boeing 787-9 equipped with Starlink.
Key Facts
- Qatar Airways is a major international airline based in Doha, Qatar.
- Starlink can provide onboard Wi-Fi speeds of up to 500 Mbps and is offered free on equipped flights.
Background
Qatar Airways has expanded its Starlink-equipped fleet to 150 widebody aircraft after completing the rollout across its Boeing 787-8 fleet. The airline has also introduced Starlink on the Boeing 787-9 for the first time globally.
The airline completed the installation on its 787-8 aircraft in seven months. It plans to finish the wider Boeing 787 rollout by the end of 2026.
The latest expansion builds on earlier Starlink installations across Qatar Airways’ Boeing 777 and Airbus A350 fleets. The airline completed the 777 rollout in nine months and the A350 programme in eight months.
Starlink can provide Wi-Fi speeds of up to 500 Mbps on equipped aircraft. Qatar Airways offers the service free to passengers, allowing them to work, send messages, stream content and use other online services during flights.
The airline said Starlink is now available on long-haul and ultra-long-haul routes across six continents. More than 23 million passengers have used the service since its launch in October 2024. The airline currently operates up to 323 Starlink-equipped flights a day.
Qatar Airways said more than 83% of its overall Starlink installation programme is now complete.
The airline is making high-speed internet a standard part of its passenger service. By expanding Starlink across more widebody aircraft, Qatar Airways aims to provide a more consistent onboard connectivity experience across its network.
The rollout also strengthens the airline’s position in the growing market for high-speed inflight internet, as passengers increasingly expect connectivity similar to what they receive on the ground.
