Qatar Airways has launched the “Sky Studio Challenge,” an industry-first creative experiment developed with Google and powered by Starlink, making it the first airline to produce, edit, render, and publish full AI-generated films during a single commercial flight.
The activation took place on 17 November 2025 aboard a Starlink-enabled Airbus A350 flying from Doha to Atlanta. Using Google’s latest Gemini-based video and image generation models, two complete commercials were created entirely in-flight—marking a global breakthrough in aviation, connectivity, and AI-driven storytelling.
The challenge relied on Starlink’s high-speed, low-latency connectivity, which enabled heavy file transfers, real-time cloud workflows, multi-layer rendering, and seamless collaboration with ground teams. Qatar Airways now operates the world’s largest fleet of Starlink-equipped widebody aircraft.
The project featured two leading AI filmmakers: PJ Accetturo, known for bold, high-impact visual concepts and viral campaigns, and Torey Kohara, a director recognized for cinematic, emotionally resonant narratives across major Google projects. Their contrasting styles showcased the creative range possible when advanced AI models are paired with reliable, high-bandwidth in-flight internet.
Qatar Airways Senior Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Communications, Babar Rahman, said the challenge underscores the airline’s leadership in inflight connectivity: “As the first airline to offer Starlink in the MENA region, we are not talking about the future—we are delivering it at scale today. Completing two full films on a 15-hour flight proves our Wi-Fi is faster than many homes.”
Google’s Regional Marketing Director for the Middle East and Africa, Najeeb Jarrar, highlighted how Gemini’s capabilities, including the Veo 3.1 video model, enable marketers to move from brief to launch within hours. He praised the collaboration and pledged further joint experimentation.
While aircraft-based commercials have been shot before, no brand has ever completed fully AI-generated films mid-flight and published them before landing. The initiative reflects Qatar Airways’ and Google’s expanding collaboration, made possible by Starlink’s bandwidth and Gemini’s rapid, high-fidelity content generation tools.
With Starlink now available on Qatar Airways’ Boeing 777 and Airbus A350 fleets, the airline has set a new global benchmark for what is possible in the sky—ushering in a new era of connectivity-led creativity.
