Qatar Airways launches first Starlink-equipped 787 and completes A350 Starlink rollout
Qatar Airways enables 787-8 with Starlink
Qatar Airways, the operator of the world’s first and largest Starlink-equipped widebody fleet, has become the first carrier globally to enable 787-8 with Starlink. The airline has also equipped its entire A350 fleet within record-breaking eight months in December 2025. To date, Qatar Airways is operating three Dreamliners with the fastest Wi-Fi in the sky, bringing the total of its Starlink-connected widebody aircraft to nearly 120.
Marking the fastest and most ambitious Starlink widebody rollout programme in global aviation history, the airline is progressing at an unsurpassed pace. Within just 14 months, Qatar Airways started and completed the 777 and A350 Starlink installation programs, and then expanded to its 787 Dreamliners.
This progress cements the airline’s position as the global leader in Starlink-enabled long-haul and ultra-long-haul connectivity while also achieving the world’s first and largest Starlink-equipped A350 fleet – building on Qatar Airways’ legacy as the aircraft’s global launch customer.
Qatar Airways is also the first in the world to secure Starlink certification for a 787-8.
More than 11 million passengers are already enjoying free, gate-to-gate, faster-than-home Wi-Fi onboard since the airline launched the service in October 2024.
In 2025, Starlink connected more than 21 million passengers across global airlines. Qatar Airways’ Starlink-connected passengers comprise nearly half of that, with more than 10 million passengers being the first in the world to enjoy the complimentary service onboard widebody aircraft across long- and ultra-long-haul routes operated by the airline.
Nearly 120 widebody aircraft, representing over 58 percent of its widebody fleet across A350s, 777s, and 787s, now provide passengers with ultra-high-speed connectivity at up to 500 Mbps, enabling uninterrupted streaming, video calls, and real-time productivity that can surpass many home broadband networks. The airline is extending the fastest Wi-Fi in the sky across an increasing number of routes, including flights to the majority of destinations served by Qatar Airways in the Americas and Australia, and on prominent routes in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
Wider Starlink rollout and enhanced real-time operations
Qatar Airways’ A350 Starlink installation program is part of a record-breaking widebody rollout program.
Starlink is transforming Qatar Airways’ employee experience and real-time operations:
- Flight and roster updates are delivered instantly to crew’s devices, ensuring increased operational alignment throughout every journey.
- Enhanced cabin crew co-ordination with ground teams in real time during medical or service-related situations, enabling faster decision-making and reducing delays.
- Engineers can monitor the inflight entertainment system during flight and prepare recovery plans before landing, improving turnaround efficiency.
Qatar Airways is the world’s largest Starlink-equipped widebody fleet and the first carrier in the MENA region to offer this technology, the press release said.
