Qatar Airways has reached a milestone of 150 Starlink-equipped widebody aircraft, becoming the first airline in the world to operate a Boeing 787-9 fitted with the satellite connectivity service.
The Doha-based carrier said more than half of its Boeing 787 fleet is now equipped with Starlink, with the rollout across the aircraft type expected to be completed by the end of 2026. The milestone also marks the completion of the Starlink installation programme across Qatar Airways’ Boeing 787-8 fleet, which was fitted in seven months.
Qatar Airways began offering Starlink connectivity in October 2024, when it launched the first Starlink-equipped Boeing 777 flight between Doha and London. At the time, the airline said it would roll out the technology across its wider fleet, with the service offered free of charge.
Since then, Starlink has been introduced across the airline’s Boeing 777 and Airbus A350 fleets, as well as its Boeing 787-8 aircraft. Qatar Airways now operates what it describes as the world’s first and largest Starlink-equipped Boeing 777, Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 fleets.
The airline said more than 23 million passengers have connected to Starlink on Qatar Airways flights since the service was introduced. The technology has been used across more than 86,000 flights, with up to 323 Starlink-equipped flights operating each day. The airline’s Starlink installation programme has now passed 83 per cent completion.
Starlink provides Wi-Fi speeds of up to 500 Mbps, allowing passengers to browse the internet, work, stream content and stay connected while flying. Qatar Airways offers complimentary Starlink Wi-Fi throughout the journey through Privilege Club membership authentication or enrolment, although gate-to-gate connectivity can be unavailable at certain airports because of local regulatory requirements.
Qatar Airways is expected to have around 175 aircraft equipped with Starlink once the Boeing 787-9 rollout is completed by the end of 2026. However, the airline has yet to confirm whether its remaining widebody Airbus A330 and A380 aircraft will receive the technology.
The latest development marks another step in Qatar Airways’ expanding Starlink rollout. The addition of the Boeing 787-9 extends the satellite connectivity service to another long-haul aircraft type, as the airline works towards completing the Starlink installation across its Boeing 787 fleet by the end of 2026.
