Having successfully flown its first Starlink-optimised flight, Qatar Airways is now looking to roll out free wifi across its entire Boeing 777 fleet within a year. Olivia Palamountain reports

Qatar Airways has launched the world’s first Starlink-equipped Boeing 777 aircraft – which has since taken off with passengers on board.

This special inaugural flight left from London to Doha on October 22, 2024, complete with free, high-speed internet access from gate to gate.

The airline, recently voted World’s Best Airline by Skytrax in 2024, has become the largest and first carrier in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to provide passengers with Starlink’s ultra-high-speed, low-latency internet service.

Qatar Airways plans to exceed its initial target by equipping 12 Boeing 777-300s with Starlink by the end of 2024.

The airline has committed to implementing the technology across its entire Boeing 777 fleet in 2025, with its Airbus A350 fleet following in summer 2025.

Qatar Airways’ group CEO, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, says: “We are thrilled to launch our first Starlink-equipped flight, proving once again why Qatar Airways is at the forefront of the aviation industry. This milestone demonstrates our relentless pursuit of offering passengers an in-flight experience that transcends the constraints of traditional air travel.”

Engineered by SpaceX, Starlink utilises a low Earth orbit satellite constellation to provide reliable internet connectivity at 35,000 feet.

It’s capable of delivering internet access around the world, including over oceans and other remote locations previously unreachable by traditional cell or wifi signals.

“Overtime you’ll find it just gets better and better. This is the minimum and it only gets better from here,” says SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.

Passengers can stream entertainment, watch live sports, play online games, or work efficiently during their flight with a simple ‘one-click-access’ system.

The launch has achieved several industry firsts, including being the world’s first Starlink-equipped Boeing widebody 777, the first Starlink implementation on a Qatar Airways passenger aircraft, and the first Starlink Supplemental Type Certificate for a Boeing aircraft.

The aircraft is also noted as the largest passenger aircraft equipped with Starlink and the longest-range Starlink-equipped passenger aircraft.