Qatar Airways has introduced the world’s first Starlink-equipped Boeing 777 aircraft. The flight flew from Doha to London on Monday, 22 October 2024. This makes Qatar Airways the first airline in the MENA region to operate an aircraft equipped with Starlink offering passengers ultra-high-speed and low latency-internet. If you have ever had an internet connection in any flight, then you know it can be very slow and unreliable.
On Qatar Airways, Starlink is free to all passengers and operates from gate to gate. Qatar plans to equip 12 Boeing 777-300s with Starlink by the end of 2024. The airline also plans to introduce this technology to its entire Boeing 777 fleet in 2025. For those planning to fly the Doha to Nairobi route, you will have to wait till mid-2025 as that is when Qatar will equip its Airbus A350 fleet, including the one service Doha to Nairobi, with Starlink.
Engineered by SpaceX, Starlink is the world’s first and largest satellite constellation using a low Earth orbit that will provide passengers reliable, high-speed internet so they can stay connected with friends and family, stream their favourite entertainment or work at 35,000 feet—all for free.
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 things they love the most even at 35,000 feet, making every journey with us a memorable one.”
With the launch of its first Starlink-equipped flight, Qatar Airways has achieved several industry-firsts, including:
- World’s first Starlink equipped Boeing Widebody 777
- First Starlink on Qatar Airways passenger aircraft
- First Starlink equipped passenger aircraft in the MENA region
- First Starlink Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for a Boeing aircraft
- Largest passenger aircraft equipped with Starlink
- Longest range Starlink equipped passenger aircraft
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