In October 2024, Qatar Airways launched Starlink Wi-Fi on board one of its Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.
At the time, the airline predicted they would complete installation across its fleet of Boeing 777s by the end of 2025. However, Qatar Airways’ installation timeline has dropped from 2-3 days to just 9.5 hours, resulting in 30 aircraft already receiving transceiver upgrades.
Speaking at Web Summit Qatar 2025, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, said, “We are delivering on our commitment to provide our passengers the best in-flight connectivity at an unprecedented pace. In just four months since launching the world’s first Boeing 777 Starlink-equipped flight, we have already installed this ground-breaking service on 30 aircraft – far exceeding our initial targets. This reflects the commendable efficiency and dedication of our team. Starlink Wi-Fi is a game-changer for our passengers who will soon enjoy uninterrupted connectivity on even more routes.”
Even though the airline has 64 Boeing 777s split between 57 777-300ER and seven 777-200LRs, I suspect the 50% reference may be specific to the -300ERs. The airline will complete 777 retrofits by the end of the Q2 of 2025.
They also initially stated it would start fitting its Airbus A350s with Starlink units from mid-2025, but with improved timelines, I wouldn’t be surprised if they start installations earlier than expected. There are 34 A350-900s and 24 A350-1000s currently in the fleet, with 18 more on order.
In real world conditions, customers on board Qatar are able to download anywhere around 80-200 Mbps.
