Qatar Airways has taken the future of in-flight connectivity to greater heights by operating the world’s first Starlink-equipped Boeing 777 aircraft from Doha to London on October 22.
This milestone establishes Qatar Airways as an industry leader in bringing advanced technology on board. The airline is the largest and first carrier in the MENA region to offer passengers Starlink ultra-high-speed, low-latency internet. Starlink is free to all passengers and operates from gate to gate.
“By providing Starlink’s 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,” stated Qatar Airways’ Group CEO Badr Mohammed Al-Meer.
Boeing 777 fleet to be fully equipped by 2025
The national carrier will also exceed its initial target of three Starlink-equipped aircraft by introducing 12 Boeing 777-300s upgraded with this innovative service by the end of 2024. Qatar Airways has further committed to rolling out the technology on its entire Boeing 777 fleet by 2025, one year ahead of schedule. It also announced the launch of the service on the Airbus A350 fleet in the summer of 2025.
This significant move highlights Qatar Airways’ commitment to bridging the gap between the skies and the ground by offering ultra-high-speed, low-latency internet.
SpaceX’s Starlink is the world’s first and largest satellite constellation using a low Earth orbit. The service will provide passengers reliable, high-speed internet so they can connect with friends and family, stream their favorite entertainment, watch live sports, play online games, or work efficiently at 35,000 feet, all for free.
#QatarAirways launches the world’s first Boeing 777 Starlink-equipped flight. @Starlink
We are proud to be the airline that leads the way, setting new standards in the airline industry. ✈️#QatarAirwaysStarlink pic.twitter.com/347ZnclANb
— Qatar Airways (@qatarairways) October 22, 2024
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Qatar Airways marks six industry-firsts
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. “Overtime you’ll find it just gets better and better. This is the minimum and it only gets better from here,” said SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.
With the launch of its first Starlink-equipped flight, Qatar Airways has achieved several industry-firsts, including:
- World’s first Starlink-equipped Boeing widebody 777
- First Starlink on Qatar Airways passenger aircraft
- First Starlink-equipped passenger aircraft in the MENA region
- First Starlink Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for a Boeing aircraft
- Largest passenger aircraft equipped with Starlink
- Longest range Starlink equipped passenger aircraft
As the first-ever service of its kind in the MENA region, this marks a new milestone for Qatar Airways. This strategic initiative will further elevate the airline’s on-board experience, ensuring more passengers have seamless access to greater connectivity during their travels.
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