Qatar Airways Launches World’s First Starlink-Equipped Boeing 787 and Completes Airbus A350 Starlink Rollout, Connecting Over 11 million Passengers with the Fastest Wi-Fi in the Sky

The World’s Best Airline becomes the first carrier globally to install Starlink on Boeing 787-8 aircraft – with three Dreamliners already equipped

Following its pioneering Boeing 777 rollout programme, Qatar Airways also completed the first Airbus A350 Starlink installation in aviation history

Nearly 120 widebody aircraft are now Starlink-equipped, offering faster-than-home Wi-Fi experience on various routes across six continents, including long- and ultra-long-haul

DOHA, Qatar – Qatar Airways, the operator of the world’s first and largest Starlink-equipped widebody fleet, has become the first carrier globally to enable Boeing 787-8 with Starlink. The airline has also equipped its entire Airbus 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 Boeing 777 and Airbus A350 Starlink installation programmes, and then expanded to its Boeing 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.

The World’s Best Airline, as voted by Skytrax in 2025 for the ninth time, is also the first in the world to secure Starlink certification for Boeing 787-8.

The impact of this leadership is already being experienced by travellers globally, with over 11 million passengers enjoying free, gate-to-gate*, faster-than-home Wi-Fi onboard since the airline launched the service in October 2024.

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 across long- and ultra-long-haul routes operated by the airline.

Nearly 120 widebody aircraft, representing over 58% of its widebody fleet across Airbus A350s, Boeing 777s, and Boeing 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.

Behind-the-Scenes Access

Media can explore the installation process through a Video News Release with footage from the Airbus A350 Starlink installation programme here.

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Wider Starlink Rollout

Qatar Airways’ A350 Starlink installation programme is part of a record-breaking widebody rollout programme:

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Enhanced Real-Time Operations with Starlink

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 continues to lead the industry as the operator of the world’s largest Starlink-equipped widebody fleet and the first carrier in the MENA region to offer this cutting-edge technology, reinforcing its reputation as the world’s best airline for unmatched passenger experience.

*Gate-to-gate access may be unavailable at certain airports due to local regulatory requirements

**Aircraft subject to change if operationally required

About Qatar Airways

A multiple award-winning airline, Qatar Airways won the ‘World’s Best Airline’ title for an unprecedented ninth time at the 2025 World Airline Awards, managed by the international air transport rating organisation, Skytrax. Qatar Airways was previously named the World’s Best Airline in 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2024.

The airline continues to be synonymous with excellence, and has yet again received recognition for ‘World's Best Business Class’, and ‘World's Best Business Class Airline Lounge’. As the leading connector in the region, Qatar Airways has also been lauded with the ‘Best Airline in the Middle East’ title for the 13 time.

Qatar Airways currently flies to over 170 destinations worldwide, connecting through its Doha hub, Hamad International Airport, the ‘Best Airport in the Middle East’ for 11 consecutive years, as well as ‘World’s Best Airport Shopping’ for the third year in a row, as voted by Skytrax. Hamad International Airport has previously been named the ‘World’s Best Airport’ by Skytrax in 2021, 2022, and 2024.

Qatar Airways was the first airline in the Middle East to be certified to the highest level of IATA’s Environmental Assessment (IEnvA) programme, based on recognised environmental management system principles (such as ISO 14001). As an inaugural signatory to the Buckingham Palace Declaration in March 2016, Qatar Airways became the first airline globally to be certified to the industry standard for the prevention of illegal wildlife trafficking in aviation.

For further information, visit www.qatarairways.com or the Qatar Airways mobile app.

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