On Tuesday, Qatar Airways initiated its first Boeing 777 flight equipped with Starlink internet from Elon Musk, marking a significant advancement in in-flight connectivity that the airline aims to implement across its entire fleet by next year. During the flight from Doha to London, Qatar Airways CEO Badr Al Meer conducted a video call with Starlink founder Elon Musk at an altitude of 35,000 feet, demonstrating the milestone event.
In a video released by Qatar Airways, Musk remarked on the call from his home, saying, “We’re literally just talking over Starlink right now – that’s super cool,” highlighting the integration of Starlink through satellite laser links to the aircraft. Qatar Airways’ new initiative to offer free high-speed internet poses a challenge to competitors, many of which currently provide lower-speed, paid, or restricted-access wi-fi services to passengers.
Musk, before being given a virtual tour of the cockpit by Al Meer, pointed out that the service will continually improve with new satellites and software enhancements. He further commented to Qatar Tourism Chairman Saad bin Ali Al-Kharji, who was also on board, stating, “Think of this as the minimum. It only gets better from here.” The airline plans to equip 12 Boeing 777-300s with the service by the end of 2024, achieve full Boeing 777 fleet coverage in 2025, and extend it to the Airbus A350 fleet by summer 2025.
Starlink, which functions as a satellite internet constellation, is capable of providing high-speed, low-latency internet through its approximately 6,000 satellites, enabling passengers to stream videos, send messages, and make calls on multiple devices via wi-fi. Under new leadership, Qatar Airways is undergoing a strategic overhaul and announced that the service would be available from gate to gate without charge.
As the first airline in the Middle East and North Africa region to offer Starlink-provided wi-fi to passengers, Qatar Airways noted in a company statement that it is not alone in this pursuit. Earlier in October, Air New Zealand CEO Greg Foran expressed to CNBC that fast, reliable wi-fi would soon become “ubiquitous” among full-service carriers as airlines strive to enhance traveler services.
Air New Zealand also announced plans to implement Starlink on two of its domestic aircraft by late 2024. In contrast, Qatar Airways disclosed in March that it is developing a First Class concept and seeking new aircraft orders from major manufacturers Boeing and Airbus as part of its “Qatar Airways 2.0” strategic revamp. This comes as recent data from IATA indicates a continued rise in global passenger demand, which increased by 8.6% in August compared to the same month in 2023, with Middle Eastern carriers experiencing a 4.9% year-on-year demand growth.