Qatar Airways has become the first airline globally to operate Boeing 787-9 aircraft fitted with Starlink connectivity, adding another milestone to what the Doha-based carrier describes as the fastest widebody Starlink installation programme in aviation history.
The airline has also completed Starlink deployment across its entire Boeing 787-8 sub-fleet, a process it says took seven months. Combined, Qatar Airways now operates 150 Starlink-equipped widebody aircraft, with the full 787 fleet conversion expected to wrap up by the end of 2026.
The rollout builds on earlier programmes the carrier completed at pace: the Boeing 777 fleet in nine months and the Airbus A350 in eight. Qatar Airways says it now operates the world’s largest Starlink-equipped fleets across all three widebody types.
Since introducing the service in October 2024, more than 23 million passengers have used Starlink connectivity across over 86,000 Qatar Airways flights.
The airline runs up to 323 Starlink-fitted flights daily, covering long-haul and ultra-long-haul routes across six continents, including services to the Americas, Australasia, Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
Connectivity is offered free of charge, gate-to-gate, through Privilege Club membership authentication or enrolment, with speeds the airline says reach up to 500 Mbps. Some airports restrict access due to local regulatory requirements.
The programme sits at 83 per cent completion across Qatar Airways’ widebody fleet.
