Qatar Airways nears the end of Starlink installation on its 777 aircraft fleet, initiates Starlink upgrade for A350 Airbus planes.
Qatar Airways is making history as it prepares to become the first airline in the world to equip the Airbus A350 aircraft type with SpaceX's Starlink technology. The airline has already completed the Starlink Wi-Fi rollout on its Boeing 777 fleet, finishing the originally planned two-year program in just nine months[1][2].
Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, stated that these moves are part of Qatar Airways' journey of redefining connectivity in the skies[3]. More than 80% of Qatar Airways' Boeing 777 fleet is now equipped with high-speed, low-latency satellite internet[4].
Since the launch of the first Starlink-equipped 777 flight in October 2024, Qatar Airways has operated over 6,000 global flights with complimentary, ultra-fast Starlink Wi-Fi service[5]. This revolutionary technology has provided passengers with an unparalleled in-flight internet experience, setting a new standard for air travel connectivity.
As Qatar Airways wraps up its Boeing 777 retrofit program, it is now focusing on equipping its Airbus A350 fleet with Starlink Wi-Fi. Installation on the A350 aircraft began in summer 2025 and is ongoing as of August 2025[1][3][4]. While the exact completion date for the A350 fleet has not yet been announced, Qatar Airways plans to outfit its Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet "soon to follow"[1].
Other major airlines, such as United, WestJet, and Air France, are also integrating Starlink into their fleets, following Qatar Airways' lead in revolutionising in-flight connectivity. Meanwhile, Air Canada has chosen a different route and announced last week it started in-flight Wi-Fi using Eutelsat Oneweb[6].
In summary, Qatar Airways has made significant strides in bringing SpaceX's Starlink technology to its aircraft fleets. The Boeing 777 fleet is complete, and the Airbus A350 rollout started in summer 2025 and is progressing, although the exact completion date for the A350 fleet has not yet been announced. The airline's commitment to redefining connectivity in the skies continues as it prepares to outfit its Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleets with Starlink technology.
[1] https://www.qatarairways.com/en-us/news/press-releases/qatar-airways-completes-starlink-wi-fi-rollout-on-its-boeing-777-fleet-ahead-of-schedule.html [2] https://www.flightglobal.com/air-transport/qatar-airways-completes-starlink-wi-fi-rollout-on-boeing-777-fleet-451537/ [3] https://www.arabianbusiness.com/transport/qatar-airways-first-airline-to-equip-airbus-a350-with-starlink-850456-1.html [4] https://www.qatarairways.com/en-us/news/press-releases/qatar-airways-nears-completion-of-starlink-wi-fi-rollout-across-its-boeing-777-fleet.html [5] https://www.flightglobal.com/air-transport/qatar-airways-nearing-completion-of-starlink-wi-fi-rollout-across-its-boeing-777-fleet-451537/ [6] https://www.aircanada.com/content/aircanada/en/about/media/news-releases/air-canada-launches-in-flight-wifi-powered-by-eutelsat-oneweb.html
The airline industry is experiencing significant advancements as Qatar Airways, a leading player, pursues the integration of SpaceX's Starlink technology into both its Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleets, following its successful rollout on the Boeing 777 fleet. This aggressive move towards technology in the aerospace sector is reshaping the landscape of finance within the aviation industry.
