• Home
  • About
    • Where has GhettoIFE gone?
    • For PR’s and Agencies (Changes and Corrections)
    • Privacy Policy
  • Snapshots
  • Trip Reports
  • Travel Plus…
    • … Technology
    • … Photography

Economy Class & Beyond

You are here: Home / IFE+C / Qatar Airways commences flying with Starlink connectivity

Qatar Airways commences flying with Starlink connectivity

23/10/2024 by Kevincm

Qatar Airways has deployed its first aircraft, fitted with the SpaceX Starlink connectivity platform.

Starlink and Qatar Airways Launch

The move follows an agreement announced at Aircraft Interiors Expo 2024.

The first aircraft to be fitted was a Boeing 777, with the airline planning to roll out Starlink connectivity to its entire Boeing 777 fleet within a year.

This numbers 57 Boeing 777-300ER and 7 Boeing 777-200LR.

It operated a flight between Doha and London Heathrow as its launch service.

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. The move allows passengers to stay entertained and connected throughout their journey, streaming their favourite shows and live sports, enjoying online gaming, or working seamlessly at 35,000 feet, with “One-Click” access.

In terms of deployment, the airline is pushing to deploy at speed, with them set to exceed its initial target of three Starlink-equipped aircraft by introducing 12 Boeing 777-300s upgraded with this service by the end of 2024.

Qatar Airways 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.

In Quotes

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, said:

“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.”

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk added

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”   

Hitting firsts – but pace will be important.

With the launch of its first Starlink-equipped flight, Qatar Airways has achieved several industry-firsts, including, the first widebody aircraft with Starlink, the first Starlink Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for a Boeing aircraft, the largest aircraft fitted and the longest range aircraft deployed with the product.

However, the pace and expectations will be important. Qatar Airways seems confident that it has met the Supplemental Type Certificates for Starlink to be installed safely and fly on Boeing 777. It will now come down to the number of raydomes and antennas that can be delivered to Qatar Airways and its engineering teams, as it takes aircraft out of service to allow for the de-installation of current solutions and installation of Starlink Antennas, Raydomes, Modems and other associated equipment to make the rollout of the product a success.

I’ll be interested to see if they can hit their planned target of 12 installations by the end of the year – and the rest of the fleet within a calendar year.

Editors Note: I know I’m a few days behind. I’m in catchup mode for the rest of the week…


Welcome to Economy Class and Beyond. Your no-nonsense guide to network news, honest reviews, in-depth coverage, unique research, as well as the humour and madness I only know how to deliver.

Our Social Media pool has expanded. You can find us across most networks as @economybeyond on Twitter, Mastodon, BlueSky, Threads and Instagram!

Also, remember that we are part of the BoardingArea community, bringing you the latest frequent flyer news from around the world.

Related

Filed Under: IFE+C

  • Bluesky
  • Email
  • Instagram
  • Mastodon
  • RSS
  • Threads

Recent Posts

  • Cathay Pacific to return to Adelaide for the winter
  • Aer Lingus to set off to Cancún, Mexico
  • STARLUX Airlines to connect Tapei to Phoenix Sky Harbour
  • Wizz Air takes delivery of its first Airbus A321XLR, with Pratt & Whitney Engines
  • TRIP REPORT: The Other Shoe Drops. Was it Worth it? Springtime Transatlantic Adventures

Email Newsletter

Sign up to receive email updates daily and to hear what's going on with us!

Privacy Policy
Copyright © Economy Class & Beyond All Rights Reserved.
Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Economy Class & Beyond with appropriate and specific directions to the original content.