Qatar Airways hits 150 Starlink-equipped aircraft milestone with first Boeing 787-9
Qatar Airways has reached a major milestone in its in-flight connectivity programme after becoming the first airline globally to operate a Starlink-equipped Boeing 787-9, taking the number of its Starlink-equipped widebody aircraft to 150.
The airline said the achievement follows the completion of Starlink installation across its Boeing 787-8 sub-fleet in seven months, with more than half of its Boeing 787 aircraft now fitted with the high-speed connectivity service.
Qatar Airways is on track to complete the rollout across its entire Boeing 787 fleet by the end of 2026.
23 million passengers already connected
Since launching Starlink connectivity in October 2024, more than 23 million passengers have accessed the service across over 86,000 Qatar Airways flights.
The airline said passengers on equipped aircraft can access free gate-to-gate Starlink Wi-Fi, with speeds of up to 500 Mbps.
“Every new Starlink-equipped aircraft extends that experience to more passengers, offering them greater freedom over how they spend their time onboard,” the airline said.
The connectivity allows passengers to work, communicate with family and friends, stream content and access online services while in the air.
Qatar Airways said it was the first airline globally to offer Starlink on long-haul and ultra-long-haul routes across six continents.
The service is being expanded across the carrier’s international network, covering destinations in the Americas, Australasia, Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
Fastest widebody Starlink rollout
The latest milestone builds on the airline’s earlier completion of Starlink installations across its Boeing 777 fleet in nine months and Airbus A350 fleet in eight months.
Qatar Airways now operates what it describes as the world’s first and largest Starlink-equipped Boeing 777, Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 fleets.
The airline’s Starlink installation programme has surpassed 83 per cent completion, with up to 323 Starlink-equipped flights operating daily.
The carrier said the technology is part of its broader strategy to enhance passenger experience by providing reliable, high-speed connectivity throughout long-haul journeys.
The introduction of Starlink on the Boeing 787-9 marks another step in the airline’s efforts to make fast internet access an increasingly standard part of air travel.
With the Boeing 787 rollout expected to be completed by the end of 2026, Qatar Airways is positioning its growing Starlink-equipped fleet as a key component of its technology-driven passenger experience.
