Qatar Airways Launches World’s First Starlink-Equipped Boeing 787, Completes Airbus A350 Rollout, Connecting Over 11 Million Passengers With Fastest Wi-Fi in the Sky
DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Qatar Airways has launched the world’s first Boeing 787 aircraft equipped with Starlink satellite internet, with the upgrades debuting Jan. 7, 2026, company officials said. The airline also completed Starlink installations on its entire fleet of 62 Airbus A350 aircraft in December 2025, and three Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners now operate with the technology. The upgrades connect more than 11 million passengers with high-speed Wi-Fi on flights across six continents.
The rollout positions Qatar Airways as the operator of the largest Starlink-equipped widebody fleet globally, according to a company press release. Starlink, provided by SpaceX, delivers low-latency, high-bandwidth connectivity through its low-Earth orbit satellite constellation. The installations enable free Wi-Fi for passengers, with speeds that exceed typical home broadband, user reports indicate. The airline completed the upgrades ahead of schedule, transforming in-flight internet on long-haul routes.
Qatar Airways finished Starlink installations on its 54 Boeing 777 aircraft in July 2025, nine months after starting the project, AeroTime reported Jan. 8, 2026. The original schedule projected two years for the Boeing 777 upgrades. The airline then began work on the Airbus A350 fleet around August 2025 and completed it by Dec. 20, 2025. This marked the first full Starlink rollout for any Airbus A350 fleet worldwide, according to the Qatar Airways press release.
The Boeing 787 launch adds to nearly 120 widebody aircraft now equipped with Starlink, including 54 Boeing 777s, 62 Airbus A350s (comprising A350-900 and A350-1000 variants) and the initial three Boeing 787-8s, company officials said. Qatar Airways described the program as the fastest widebody Starlink rollout in aviation history, completing the Boeing 777 and Airbus A350 installations within 14 months total. The airline signed an agreement with SpaceX in late 2023 or early 2024 to provide the service, according to online sources.
More than 11 million passengers have used the Starlink Wi-Fi since its debut on Boeing 777 flights to London in mid-2024, according to Qatar Airways. The system supports streaming, video calls, social media and email without buffering, even on flights as short as four hours. A Reddit user reported: “The internet [is] pretty fast, basically like your at home. You can scroll through social media, emails and stream YouTube without buffering.” The airline offers the service free of charge on its widebody long-haul and ultra-long-haul routes.
“Qatar Airways made light work of the 777 upgrade, completing the project in nine months after the installation was initially scheduled to take two years,” AeroTime stated in its Jan. 8 report. The press release added: “Marking the fastest and most ambitious Starlink widebody rollout programme in global aviation history.” Independent aviation sources, including AeroTime, confirmed the timelines and fleet numbers, with minor variances in exact start dates.
The upgrades outpace other airlines, such as JSX and Hawaiian Airlines, which have conducted smaller Starlink trials, according to industry reports. Qatar Airways holds the title of World’s Best Airline for 2025 from Skytrax, its ninth win, and the Starlink deployment enhances its competitive edge. The technology uses Starlink Aviation terminals certified for Boeing 777, Airbus A350 and now Boeing 787 platforms.
SpaceX’s Starlink constellation, with more than 6,000 satellites, disrupts traditional geostationary satellite communications used by providers like Viasat and Intelsat, which offer slower speeds, analysts said. The Qatar Airways deployment validates Starlink’s viability for commercial aviation and mobility sectors, including maritime applications. The airline plans ongoing expansion for its Boeing 787 fleet, though timelines remain unspecified.
Passenger feedback on Reddit corroborated the performance claims, with users noting reliable connectivity on routes across Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America and Oceania. Qatar Airways calculated the 11 million passenger figure based on total flights and occupancy since the initial rollout, officials said.
The rapid rollout began with Boeing 777 installations around October 2024, based on the nine-month completion. Airbus A350 work followed, achieving certification and full deployment in record time. Boeing provided platform support for the 777 and 787 integrations, while Airbus assisted with the A350 variants.
Industry observers noted that Qatar Airways’ scale surpasses trials by carriers like United Airlines and Delta Air Lines, which have not reached full-fleet implementations. The deployment highlights low-Earth orbit technology’s advantages in latency and bandwidth for in-flight use.
Qatar Airways did not disclose exact costs of the installations or partnership details with SpaceX. Specific technical metrics, such as download speeds in megabits per second or latency figures, also remain unconfirmed beyond user anecdotes. Independent speed tests could provide further validation, sources suggested.
The airline operates the Starlink service on widebody aircraft only, with no announced plans for narrowbody fleets. The Jan. 7 press release emphasized the Boeing 787 as a global first, echoed in AeroTime’s coverage the following day.
This development signals broader adoption potential for Starlink in aviation, tying into SpaceX’s revenue growth beyond rocket launches. Qatar Airways continues to lead in passenger experience innovations, as recognized by Skytrax rankings. (648 words)
