Qatar Airways launches high-speed Starlink Wi-Fi on Boeing 777

Aviation has entered a new era of in-flight connectivity with Qatar Airways operating its first Boeing 777 flight equipped with Elon Musk’s Starlink ultra-high-speed internet on Tuesday (Oct. 22).

To celebrate the milestone, Qatar Airways CEO Badr Al Meer held a video call with Musk while flying at 35,000 feet from Doha to London.

“We’re literally just talking over Starlink right now – that’s super cool,” Musk said on the call from his home, which was filmed and released by the Qatari airline. “It’s Starlink across the laser links of the satellites all the way to your aircraft.”

Stay connected, free of charge

The 777 is the largest and longest-range passenger aircraft equipped with Starlink to date, reports say.

Qatar Airways passengers can now stay entertained and connected throughout their journey, streaming their favourite shows and live sports, enjoying online gaming, or working seamlessly at 35,000 feet – all completely free of charge.

To further demonstrate Starlink’s speed and effectiveness, the carrier uploaded and dispatched a press release announcing the news from 35,000 feet, using the satellite service. 

Qatar Airways is the largest and first carrier in the MENA region to offer Starlink's ultra-high-speed, low-latency internet.

Expansion plans

The national airline of Qatar is also set to exceed its initial target of three Starlink-equipped aircraft by introducing 12 Boeing 777-300s upgraded with this service by the end of 2024.

Qatar Airways has further committed to rolling out the technology on its entire Boeing 777 fleet in 2025 – one year ahead of schedule – with the Airbus A350 fleet following in the summer of 2025.

“This milestone, paired with our commitment to rapidly roll-out Starlink across our entire modern 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, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, in a statement.

“By providing Starlink reliable, seamless internet on board, we are connecting people to the things they love the most even at 35,000 feet, making every journey with us a memorable one.”

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