A Qatar Airways flight from Doha to London on October 22nd was the first-ever Boeing 777 jet equipped with Wi-Fi provided by Starlink. The airline is set to equip its whole 777 fleet with the technology in 2025.
In a press release, doha-based carrier Qatar Airways announced the introduction of SpaceX’s Starlink internet connection on its Boeing 777, which was fittingly uploaded and dispatched from 35.000 feet using Starlink. During the flight, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al Meer also had a video call with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk using the Starlink internet connection.
Even though Qatar Airways isn’t the first airline in the world using Starlink, it is the first in the MENA region.
“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”, commented Al-Meer.
The launch of Starlink on Qatar Airways’ Boeing 777 marks several industry firsts. Not only is it the world’s first Starlink-equipped Boeing Widebody 777, but it is also the first Starlink Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for a Boeing aircraft. Moreover, it’s the largest passenger aircraft equipped with Starlink and the longest-range Starlink equipped passenger aircraft.
What's it like flying with @Starlink Wi-Fi in the sky? ☁️
— Qatar Airways (@qatarairways) October 23, 2024
Hear from the first passengers to experience it on board ✈️ pic.twitter.com/SGjzsqNBNl
Qatar Airways will introduce 12 Boeing 777-300s upgraded with Starlink by the end of 2024. The airline has further committed to rolling out the technology on its entire Boeing 777 fleet in 2025 – one year ahead of schedule – with the Airbus A350 fleet following in the summer of 2025. The ultra-high-speed, low-latency internet which is currently provided by over 6.400 Starlink satellites will be free of charge and available gate-to-gate. According to Elon Musk, the connection speed should only increase in the future.
“This is the minimum, and it only gets better from here,” Musk said during the video call with Al Meer.
