Qatar Airways Launches World’s First Starlink Wi-Fi on Boeing 777

Qatar Airways continues to raise the bar for in-flight service by becoming the first airline in the world to operate a Starlink-equipped Boeing 777.

On October 22, 2024, passengers on the Doha-to-London flight enjoyed an unprecedented experience, able to stream, browse, game, or work seamlessly at 35,000 feet—all for free.

Photo: Courtesy of Qatar Airways / YouTube

This significant milestone establishes Qatar Airways as the largest and first carrier in the MENA region to offer Starlink’s ultra-high-speed, low-latency internet service from gate to gate.

Pioneering Inflight Connectivity

Starlink, engineered by SpaceX, uses a vast satellite network in low Earth orbit to deliver reliable, high-speed internet across the globe, including previously unreachable areas like oceans and remote locations. Passengers can now experience download speeds of up to 350Mbps, making activities like video calling, streaming, and gaming possible, even from the sky.

Photo: Starlink antenna. Courtesy of Hawaiian Airlines

“This milestone, paired with our commitment to rapidly roll out Starlink across our entire fleet, demonstrates our relentless pursuit of offering passengers an in-flight experience that transcends the constraints of traditional air travel,” said Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer Badr Mohammed Al-Meer.

Qatar Airways is aiming to exceed its initial target of three Starlink-equipped aircraft by the end of 2024. The airline plans to equip 12 Boeing 777-300s with this groundbreaking technology by year’s end, with the entire 777 fleet upgraded by 2025. The airline says its Airbus A350 fleet will follow in the summer of 2025, a full year ahead of schedule.

A Leap Forward

Qatar Airways has achieved a series of industry firsts through its partnership with Starlink. These include the introduction of the first Starlink-equipped Boeing widebody 777, the first Starlink-equipped passenger aircraft in the MENA region, and the largest passenger aircraft equipped with Starlink.

#QatarAirways launches the world’s first Boeing 777 Starlink-equipped flight. @Starlink

We are proud to be the airline that leads the way, setting new standards in the airline industry. ✈️#QatarAirwaysStarlink pic.twitter.com/347ZnclANb

— Qatar Airways (@qatarairways) October 22, 2024

During the inaugural Starlink flight, Al-Meer demonstrated the service’s capabilities by video-calling SpaceX founder Elon Musk while en route to London. Musk, impressed by the smooth connectivity, remarked, “Over time, you’ll find it just gets better and better. This is the minimum, and it only gets better from here.”

Seamless Connectivity

Unlike Qatar Airways’ previous ‘Super Wi-Fi,’ which came with a $10 price tag, Starlink Wi-Fi is completely complimentary for all passengers. This new service is set to replace the airline’s older Wi-Fi systems, delivering unmatched in-flight internet connectivity. Passengers can now stay connected for work, entertainment, or simply keeping in touch with loved ones—all at no extra cost.

Photo: Qatar Airways, Boeing 777-300ER. Courtesy of Boeing

Jonathan Hofeller, Vice President of Commercial Sales at SpaceX, highlighted the importance of the collaboration: “With Starlink set to support the entire Qatar Airways fleet, passengers traveling between over 160 destinations around the world will be able to stay connected with the most advanced high-speed internet service from space.”

Industry Buzz

The Starlink Wi-Fi service has already started winning over frequent travelers. Dutch entrepreneur and frequent flyer Marc van der Chijs, who had been critical of slow in-flight internet services, was among the impressed. “I am seriously considering to stop flying Emirates for a while until they get decent Internet on board,” he tweeted. “I love their service and seats (except for their 777s), but if you fly a lot, you need fast Internet on long-haul flights. Qatar Airways (with Starlink) is a good alternative.”

Photo: Oryx One. Courtesy of Qatar Airways

Tom Boon, Managing Editor at Simple Flying, was aboard the inaugural Starlink-equipped flight and shared his thoughts on the experience. “The first thing that surprised me about Starlink’s Wi-Fi service on Qatar Airways is its ease of use. The usual hassle of logging in or paying for service is gone. Passengers simply connect to the network and already have access,” Boon explained. “For passengers, using the Starlink service is like using the Wi-Fi at home—perhaps even better.”

Boon ran live speed tests during the flight, which revealed download speeds of around 150mbps and upload speeds of 50mbps. “We’re one hour and 20 minutes into the flight, and internet speed tests have been averaging around 150mbps,” Boon noted, further reinforcing the impact of Qatar Airways’ cutting-edge connectivity.

Future Rollouts

As Qatar Airways progresses with its fleet-wide Starlink rollout, it becomes the fifth and largest airline to offer Starlink Wi-Fi, joining JSX, Hawaiian Airlines, airBaltic, and ZIPAIR in leading the charge for advanced in-flight connectivity.

Recently, United Airlines inked a deal with SpaceX, becoming the first major U.S. carrier to offer Starlink Wi-Fi across its entire fleet for free. This industry-leading deal, the largest of its kind, will bring high-speed, low-latency internet service to over 1,000 United aircraft, ensuring passengers enjoy seamless gate-to-gate connectivity on domestic and international flights.

Photo: Courtesy of United

But in the Middle East, “Qatar Airways is at the forefront of the aviation industry,” said Al-Meer. “By providing Starlink’s reliable, seamless internet on board, we are connecting people to the things they love most, even at 35,000 feet.”

As the Doha-based Oneworld member continues to innovate, passengers can look forward to an enhanced in-flight experience that rivals even the best on-the-ground services.