Qatar Airways Launches First Starlink-Equipped Flight

Qatar Airways marked a significant milestone by launching its first Starlink-equipped aircraft service on a Boeing 777 flying from Doha to London on Tuesday, October 22, 2024. The inaugural flight featured a special video call with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who shared his vision for the service’s future improvements.

The airline is significantly ahead of its initial implementation schedule. While originally planning to equip just three aircraft with Starlink by the end of 2024, Qatar Airways now expects to have twelve Boeing 777-300s featuring the satellite internet service operational within the same timeframe.

The carrier’s ambitious expansion plans include outfitting their entire Boeing 777 fleet with Starlink by 2025, beating their original timeline by a full year. Additionally, the airline plans to extend the service to its Airbus A350 fleet starting in Summer 2025, positioning Qatar Airways as an industry leader in in-flight connectivity.

During the inaugural flight’s promotional event, Elon Musk emphasized the service’s potential for improvement, stating, “Over time, you’ll find it just gets better and better. This is the minimum, and it only gets better from here.”

Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, Qatar Airways’ Group Chief Executive Officer, expressed enthusiasm about the launch: “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, paired with our commitment to rapidly rollout Starlink across our entire modern fleet, demonstrates our relentless pursuit of offering passengers an in-flight experience that transcends the constraints of traditional air travel. By providing Starlink reliable, seamless internet on board, we are connecting people to the things they love the most even at 35,000 feet, making every journey with us a memorable one.”

For a closer look at Qatar Airways’ inaugural Starlink-equipped flight, watch the video below: