Emirates To Start Starlink Wi-Fi Rollout Next Week

Updated: January 11, 2026, 7:44am CST

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Emirates Rolling Out Free Starlink as of Next Week
Final Thoughts

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Emirates is about to join the big leagues of inflight Wi-Fi.

The Dubai-based carrier has announced that it will operate its first Starlink-enabled flight next week on November 23, 2026.

“Partnering with Starlink is another defining moment in our continuous commitment to ensuring our customers ‘fly better,’” said Tim Clark, president at Emirates.

Let’s take a look at the details.

Emirates Rolling Out Free Starlink as of Next Week

Starlink is fast becoming the provider of choice for airlines. Its reliable, super-high-speed connectivity has changed the game for travelers since its commercial flight debut on a Qatar Airways Boeing 777 in October 2024.

Emirates will be the next airline to roll out this best-in-class Wi-Fi on November 23 when its Boeing 777-300ER, registered as A6-EPF, finishes its shift at the Dubai Air Show.

All passengers, no matter the cabin class, will be eligible to connect to Emirates’ Starlink Wi-Fi for free for the duration of their flight. As it stands, no airline has yet decided to charge its passengers to connect to Starlink. Additionally, Emirates opted not to make membership in its frequent flyer program, Skywards, mandatory for Starlink access. That differs from what other airlines are doing, such as Air France.

By the end of the year, passengers flying Starlink-equipped planes will be able to enjoy live TV on their IFE screen as well as on their personal devices.

Emirates streaming via Starlink — Live streaming will be possible on some Emirates aircraft by the end of the year. Image Credit: Emirates

Emirates’ Starlink rollout will commence with its fleet of Boeing 777s, and the installation should be completed on all 232 of its Airbus and Boeing jets by mid-2027. Of course, that will include the airline’s Airbus A380s, which Emirates is famous for, thanks to its onboard shower in first class. The plan is to install Starlink on 14 aircraft per month. That translates to approximately 1 plane every 2 to 3 days.

When it launches next week, Emirates will join Air France, Hawaiian Airlines, United Airlines, and, of course, Qatar Airways as one of the earlier adopters of the game-changing in-flight Internet on some or all of their aircraft.

We’ve already had confirmations that Alaska Airlines, British Airways, and Virgin Atlantic will join the Starlink brigade in 2026. While this is big news in 2025, give it 5 years and we’d expect most, if not all, airlines to have adopted Starlink — or an equivalent, which is what JetBlue is doing.

Hot Tip:

Emirates’ first-class shower experience doesn’t have to be a pipe dream. Thanks to points and miles, you can book Emirates first class for a fraction of the cash price.

Final Thoughts

Passengers flying some of Emirates’ Boeing 777 aircraft by the end of the year will enjoy complimentary premium Wi-Fi connection. The airline is planning a fast rollout, planning for all of its aircraft to be Starlink-equipped by 2027. Having experienced Starlink when flying other airlines, we look forward to experiencing this exceptional connectivity on our next Emirates flights.