Qatar Airways has launched the world’s first Boeing 777 Starlink-equipped flight and plans to roll out the internet service across its fleet within a year.
The airline announced the launch on Tuesday via a media release that was uploaded and dispatched using the ultra-high-speed, low-latency internet service from an aircraft that was flying at 35 000 feet from Doha to London
The Starlink free service is being offered to all passengers and operates from gate to gate.
The national carrier is set to exceed its initial target of three Starlink-equipped aircraft, delivering 12 Boeing 777-300s upgraded with this service by the end of 2024, with a further commitment to introduce the technology to its entire Boeing 777 fleet in 2025 – one year ahead of schedule. The Airbus A350 fleet will follow in the summer of 2025.
Engineered by SpaceX, Starlink is the world's first and largest satellite constellation using a low Earth orbit that will provide passengers with reliable, high-speed internet so they can stay connected with friends and family, stream their favourite entertainment, watch live sports, play online games, or work efficiently at 35 000 feet - all for free and with a simple ‘one-click access’.
Qatar Airways’ group chief executive officer, Engr Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, said: “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.”
Leveraging advanced satellites with its deep experience with both spacecraft and on-orbit operations, Starlink delivers internet access around the world, including over oceans and other remote locations previously unreachable by traditional cell or Wi-Fi signals.
