Three of Qatar Airways’ Boeing 777-300 aircraft will receive Starlink’s Wi-Fi connectivity by the fourth quarter of 2024. The airline’s entire fleet will be upgraded with the SpaceX-powered Starlink technology over the next two years
Passengers will be able to enjoy complimentary ultra-high-speed Wi-Fi, of up to 500 Megabits per second per plane, to access a variety of internet-based services. That will include the streaming of entertainment and sports videos, online gaming, enriched web-browsing and much more.
The announcement was made at the Aircraft Interior Expo (AIX) in Hamburg – Germany, in the presence of Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Airways Group, and Mike Nicolls, Vice President of Starlink Engineering at SpaceX.
Qatar Airways’ passengers will have simple one-click access to use the high-speed and low-latency network.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, said: “This exciting collaboration with Starlink is a testament to our customer-first mindset and commitment to elevating our passengers’ experience to unprecedented heights, as we continue furthering our innovative offerings to meet and exceed passengers’ expectations throughout their journey with Qatar Airways.”
As the first-ever service of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, the collaboration with Starlink, the world’s largest satellite internet constellation engineered and operated by SpaceX, marks a new milestone for the national carrier of Qatar.
Mike Nicolls, Starlink Engineering Vice President at SpaceX, said: “High-speed, low-latency internet is the future of aviation connectivity, and we’re excited to work with Qatar Airways to start flying Starlink on their fleet by the end of this year. Soon, all Qatar Airways passengers will be able to enjoy all the benefits of the world’s best in-flight connectivity from the comfort of their seats.”
