In October 2023, Qatar Airways announced that it would partner with Starlink to offer superfast Wi-Fi on board its aircraft. Qatar Airways has been one of the more prominent airlines committed to equipping their aircraft with the Starlink Wi-Fi system. They have now initiated the rollout, and we have more details to share.

Qatar Airways will introduce Starlink connectivity on board.

At the Airlines Interiors Expo, Qatar Airways and Starlink announced the timeline for the launch of their partnership. Qatar Airways currently offers consistently high and cheap Wi-Fi on board its aircraft (branded Super Wi-Fi). But Starlink, which uses the Low Earth Orbit to provide superfast Wi-Fi, will take the mantle shortly, and you can expect speeds as high as 500 megabits per second once this happens.

Qatar Airways had announced that three of their Boeing 777-300ER aircraft will be fitted with Starlink by the fourth quarter of 2024. The entire fleet will get Starlink connectivity within two years (2026).

Qatar Airways is one of several airlines working with Starlink on inflight connectivity. It is also available on carriers like JetSuiteX and Hawaiian Airlines and will be available on AirBaltic, Air New Zealand, United and WestJet.

QR has completed the fit-out of the first aircraft that will carry the new inflight connectivity radomes and is now live with this new high(er) connectivity. The airline emailed the press release from 35,000 feet using the Starlink connectivity. Not only that, but Qatar Airways CEO and Elon Musk also had a video call, which was recorded for sharing with the media and passengers.

Qatar Airways CEO Badr Mohammed Al Meer had this to say about the update on the Wi-Fi:

We are thrilled to launch our first Starlink-equipped flight, proving once again why Qatar Airways is at the forefront of the aviation industry. 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. 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.

Qatar Airways Starlink Wi-Fi rollout schedule

Earlier this year, at the AIX Expo, Qatar Airways and Starlink mentioned having three aircraft fitted with Starlink. Now, the timeline is more aggressive. Here is what Qatar Airways expects to do now.

• 12 Boeing 777-300ERs with Starlink Wi-Fi by the end of 2024
• The complete 777 fleet will be equipped with Starlink Wi-Fi by the end of 2025
• The Airbus A350 fleet is to start getting Starlink Wi-Fi as of the summer of 2025

The timelines for aircraft such as the 787 or the A380 have yet to be announced.

Bottomline

Qatar Airways has introduced Starlink Wi-Fi on its Boeing 777 fleet. The airline hopes to have 12 777 aircraft with high-speed Wi-Fi by the end of 2024. Qatar Airways will offer it complimentary. The plan is for all 777s to get Starlink in 2025.

What do you think of Qatar Airways adding free Starlink Wi-Fi to their inflight product?

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