Qatar Airways Debuts Free Starlink Wi-Fi, Reveals Rollout Schedule

Updated: October 22, 2024, 12:51pm CDT

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Qatar Plans Free Wi-Fi for All Passengers
Boeing 777s Get Starlink First, Airbus A350s Later
Final Thoughts

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Qatar Airways has begun flying its first airplane equipped with fast, free Wi-Fi using the Starlink satellite constellation. The airline has also revealed an updated schedule for the installation of the upgraded Starlink Wi-Fi on its entire fleet of Boeing 777s and Airbus A350s.

Here’s what you should know.

Qatar Plans Free Wi-Fi for All Passengers

Complimentary Wi-Fi in the sky is still rare, especially when flying economy. When Wi-Fi is available, it can be slow.

Qatar Airways says it’s solving the problem by installing Starlink’s super fast, low-latency Wi-Fi, first on the aiprlanes that fly its longest routes.

Its first plane equipped with Starlink, a 777-300, flew on October 22 between Doha (DOH) and London Heathrow (LHR).

Qatar Airways said in a statement — sent via Starlink from that flight to Heathrow — that it’s also installing the new service faster than it had announced earlier. Starlink will be installed on 12 of its Boeing 777-300 jets by the end of 2024, instead of 3 as the airline had said before.

And best of all, Starlink’s fast, satellite-based service will be free for all passengers.

Qatar Airways’ first-class passengers already enjoy unlimited free Wi-Fi onboard. However, the speeds attainable through the current provider leave much to be desired.

Qatar Airways economy WAW DOH 787 row 25 — Even passengers flying in economy will soon have access to complimentary Wi-Fi when Qatar starts its Starlink rollout. Image Credit: Keri Stooksbury

Boeing 777s Get Starlink First, Airbus A350s Later

Qatar Airways said it will have Starlink on its entire Boeing 777 fleet in 2025, 1 year ahead of schedule. The Airbus A350 fleet will begin Starlink installation in the summer of 2025.

While this is exciting news for frequent Qatar Airways flyers, Qatar has 62 Boeing 777s in service, according to fleet-tracking site Planespotters. Therefore, at the end of the year, you will have less than a 1 in 5 chance of finding free Starlink Wi-Fi when flying on 1 of these planes, given that only 12 will feature the updated internet.

The airline has not said whether it plans to install Starlink on the rest of its fleet, which includes Boeing 787s and several Airbus models: the A380, A320 series, and A330.

That said, the Middle East is home to 3 of the world’s biggest airlines. Qatar Airways’ introduction of fast, complimentary Wi-Fi for all passengers could go a long way toward differentiating the airline from its biggest local competitors, Emirates and Etihad.

Other airlines worldwide, such as Latvia-based AirBaltic, Air New Zealand, Hawaiian Airlines, JSX, and Japan’s ZIPAIR, use Starlink Wi-Fi, but Qatar now claims to be the largest carrier to host the service.

Hot Tip:

From no Wi-Fi at all to costly annual passes, the availability of inflight connectivity onboard can vary greatly. Read our in-depth guide on how inflight Wi-Fi works in the sky — and how much it will cost you — across your favorite U.S. airlines.

Final Thoughts

Qatar’s rollout of complimentary Wi-Fi for all will be a welcome move for many flyers, even if it will only be available on 12 of its aircraft by the end of the year. Starlink is known for offering the fastest speeds, so we’re excited to try it out for ourselves very soon.