Qatar Airways has activated Starlink inflight connectivity on its Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners, marking the first global deployment of the technology on this aircraft variant. The milestone is part of the airline’s broader fleet-wide rollout, which has positioned Qatar Airways as the world’s largest operator of widebody aircraft equipped with Starlink systems. The programme has been coordinated through Hamad International Airport, with connectivity upgrades steadily implemented across the fleet.
Nearly 120 widebody aircraft operated by Qatar Airways are now fitted with Starlink. Since the service was introduced in October 2024, more than 11 million passengers have used the airline’s free, high-speed Wi-Fi. The connectivity is available gate to gate, subject to local regulations, allowing passengers to remain connected throughout their journey.
The certification of the Boeing 787-8 represents the latest phase of a rapid deployment strategy. Over a 14-month period, Starlink installations were completed across the Boeing 777 fleet and the Airbus A350 fleet, before extending to the Boeing 787 Dreamliner family. In December 2025, Qatar Airways completed the full Starlink rollout across its Airbus A350 fleet in just eight months, setting a record for widebody connectivity upgrades.
The Boeing 787-8 has now become the world’s first Dreamliner variant certified with Starlink. Three Starlink-enabled 787-8 aircraft are already in service, contributing to a widebody fleet where more than 58 percent of aircraft now offer ultra-high-speed inflight internet. Qatar Airways’ role as the global launch customer of the Airbus A350 is further reinforced by its operation of the world’s first and largest Starlink-equipped A350 fleet.
Uninterrupted connectivity has increasingly become a core expectation for long-haul and ultra-long-haul travelers. Gate-to-gate internet access allows passengers to maintain digital routines with minimal disruption, integrating time in the air more seamlessly into work, communication, and entertainment needs. By offering the service free of charge, Qatar Airways aligns its inflight experience with evolving passenger expectations around convenience and continuity.
As long-distance travel continues to dominate global aviation patterns, onboard connectivity has taken on greater importance. Reliable high-speed internet is particularly relevant on intercontinental routes linking the Americas, Australia, Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Qatar Airways’ expanding Starlink deployment reflects a broader industry shift toward treating inflight connectivity as an essential component of the overall travel experience rather than an optional add-on.
Starlink inflight systems are capable of delivering speeds of up to 500 Mbps, supporting streaming, video calls, and real-time online activities throughout the flight. In 2025, more than 21 million airline passengers worldwide used Starlink inflight connectivity, with over 10 million of them traveling on Qatar Airways—nearly half of global airline Starlink users.
With the Boeing 787-8 now included, Qatar Airways continues to expand one of the most extensive widebody inflight connectivity programmes globally, spanning Boeing 777, Airbus A350, and Boeing 787 aircraft. The growing share of connected aircraft is set to remain a defining feature of the airline’s long-haul operations.
