Qatar Airways has launched its first Boeing 777 flight featuring Elon Musk’s Starlink internet, initiating a new phase of in-flight connectivity that will extend across its entire fleet by the next year. In a demonstration of this development, Qatar Airways CEO Badr Al Meer conducted a video call with Starlink founder Elon Musk while cruising at 35,000 feet from Doha to London. During the call, Elon Musk expressed his excitement about the technology and noted that the satellite connections facilitated the communication from his home to the aircraft.
The introduction of free high-speed internet across Qatar Airways’ fleet poses a direct challenge to other airlines, which typically offer slower, often unreliable paid services or restricted wi-fi access. Musk assured that the service would improve over time with the deployment of new satellites and enhancements in software, suggesting that current performance is just the beginning.
The airline aims to have 12 Boeing 777-300s equipped with this service by the end of 2024, covering the entire Boeing 777 fleet by 2025, with plans for its Airbus A350 fleet to follow by the summer of 2025.
Starlink operates a satellite internet constellation offering high-speed, low-latency service via approximately 6,000 satellites. This allows passengers to engage in activities like streaming videos, sending messages, and making calls over wi-fi on various devices. Qatar Airways, which is undergoing significant restructuring under new leadership, announced that the service would be free of charge and available from gate to gate.
In making this move, Qatar Airways becomes the first airline in the Middle East and North Africa to provide Starlink-supplied wi-fi for its passengers. However, it is not alone in its endeavors to enhance connectivity; Air New Zealand CEO Greg Foran indicated that fast and reliable wi-fi will become standard as airlines strive to improve services for travelers. Air New Zealand revealed plans to introduce Starlink on two of its domestic aircraft by the end of 2024.
Qatar Airways also disclosed to CNBC in March its development of a First Class concept and its pursuit of aircraft orders from major manufacturers Boeing and Airbus as part of its “Qatar Airways 2.0” strategic overhaul. This initiative aligns with new IATA data reflecting a continuous increase in global passenger demand, with an 8.6% rise in August compared to the previous year, and a 4.9% year-on-year increase for Middle Eastern carriers.
