Qatar Airways Pushes Ahead with Starlink Rollout
Qatar Airways has detailed new progress in its Starlink Wi-Fi programme, becoming the first airline to install the system on Boeing 787-8 aircraft while also completing installation across its entire Airbus A350 fleet. Three Dreamliners are now fitted with Starlink, adding to the airline’s Boeing 777 and A350 programmes, which were completed within 14 months. The carrier now operates almost 120 Starlink-enabled widebodies, with recorded speeds of up to 500 Mbps.
The airline describes this as the fastest large-scale installation of Starlink on widebody aircraft to date, covering long-haul and ultra-long-haul operations across six continents. The rollout began with the Boeing 777, followed by the Airbus A350, and has now expanded to the Boeing 787. Qatar Airways is also the first airline to secure Starlink certification for the 787-8, and holds the world’s largest Starlink-equipped A350 fleet.
Qatar Airways reports that more than 11 million people have already used free gate-to-gate Wi-Fi since the service went live in October 2024. In 2025, Starlink provided inflight connectivity to more than 21 million people across several airlines, and Qatar Airways made up nearly half of that figure.
Coverage and Key Numbers
- Aircraft fitted: ~120 widebodies
- Speeds: up to 500 Mbps
- Passenger uptake: 11m+ on Qatar Airways since 2024
- Aircraft types: 777, 787-8, A350
- Certification firsts: Boeing 787-8, full A350 fleet
The airline highlights long-haul routes in the Americas and Australia as major beneficiaries, alongside services in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Europe.
Qatar Airways’ push reflects how long-haul competition is shifting toward better connectivity standards rather than only cabin upgrades or entertainment libraries. With free, fast Wi-Fi now working across a large share of its widebody fleet, long flights can support uninterrupted streaming, calls, messaging and cloud work without guessing whether a specific aircraft has coverage. Finishing the A350 programme, certifying the 787-8 and moving close to 120 active Starlink aircraft sets a new reference point for other full-service airlines planning their next steps in this space.
