Qatar Airways has surged ahead in the race for superior in-flight connectivity, establishing itself as the global leader in deploying SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet across its long-haul fleet.
A Record-Breaking Rollout
The Doha-based carrier has achieved a significant aviation milestone by becoming the first airline worldwide to operate a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner equipped with Starlink technology. It currently has three of these Dreamliners offering what is touted as the fastest wi-fi available in the sky.
In an impressive feat of engineering and logistics, the airline also managed to fit its entire fleet of Airbus A350 aircraft with the Starlink system. This substantial project was completed in a mere eight months.
Combined, these efforts mean that nearly 120 widebody aircraft in the Qatar Airways fleet are now connected to the low-earth orbit satellite network, providing passengers with unprecedented internet speeds during flight.
Transforming the Passenger Experience
The Starlink connection offers bandwidth that radically changes what is possible at 40,000 feet. Passengers can reliably stream movies and music, participate in video conference calls, and enjoy online gaming without frustrating lag.
Download speeds are consistently high, typically ranging from 135 to 310 megabits per second (Mbps) or more. This performance level shatters the traditional limitations of inflight internet.
An insider at Qatar Airways highlighted the scale and speed of the achievement, stating the airline is executing the fastest and most ambitious Starlink widebody rollout in aviation history.
"Within just 14 months, Qatar Airways started and completed the Boeing 777 and Airbus A350 Starlink installation programs, and then expanded to its Boeing 787 Dreamliners," the source explained.
Leading the Market in Connected Travel
This rapid progress solidifies Qatar Airways' position at the forefront of connected long-haul and ultra-long-haul travel. The airline now boasts the world's first and largest Starlink-equipped A350 fleet.
The service, which launched in October 2024, has already made a major impact. More than 11 million passengers have benefited from complimentary, gate-to-gate wi-fi since its introduction.
A spokesperson provided compelling context for the airline's dominance in this space: "In 2025, Starlink connected over 21 million passengers across global airlines. Qatar Airways' Starlink-connected passengers comprise nearly half of that, with over 10 million passengers being the first in the world to enjoy the complimentary service onboard widebody aircraft."
This massive investment in passenger connectivity underscores the airline's strategy to compete on service quality and technological innovation, setting a new benchmark that other international carriers will now strive to match.
