On Tuesday, October 22, Qatar Airways operated the world’s first Boeing 777 aircraft equipped with Starlink in-flight connectivity on a flight from Doha to London. This flight marks the issuance of the first Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for operating Starlink on a Boeing aircraft.
Qatar Airways is the first airline in the MENA region to offer passengers the ultra-high-speed, low-latency internet service provided by Starlink. The airline has announced plans to exceed its initial goal of having three Starlink-equipped aircraft by the end of 2024, with a commitment to upgrade 12 Boeing 777-300s with the service by the end of the year. Additionally, Qatar Airways is set to implement Starlink technology across its entire fleet of 64 Boeing 777 aircraft in 2025, one year ahead of schedule, with 58 Airbus A350s to follow in the summer of 2025.
Powered by SpaceX, the Starlink low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation will provide passengers with reliable, high-speed internet capable of streaming entertainment content and live sports, as well as supporting online work while in the air. The Starlink service is free for all Qatar Airways passengers on equipped aircraft and operates from gate to gate with a simple ‘one-click access’ process.
Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, Qatar Airways’ Group CEO, commented on the launch: “This milestone, combined with our commitment to rapidly roll out Starlink across our entire modern fleet, showcases our relentless pursuit of offering passengers an in-flight experience that transcends the limitations of traditional air travel. By providing reliable and seamless internet connectivity at 35,000 feet, we are connecting people to what they love most, making every journey with us memorable.”
Starlink leverages advanced satellites and extensive experience in spacecraft and on-orbit operations to deliver internet access globally, including over oceans and other remote areas that traditional cellular or Wi-Fi signals cannot reach.
“Over time, you’ll find it just gets better and better. This is the minimum and it only gets better from here,” said Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX.
