Qatar Airways has taken the future of in-flight connectivity to
greater heights by operating the world’s first Starlink-equipped Boeing 777 aircraft
from Doha to London on Tuesday, 22 October 2024.
This milestone establishes Qatar Airways, the World’s Best Airline
as voted by Skytrax in 2024, as an industry leader in bringing advanced
technology on board. The airline is the largest and first carrier in the MENA
region to offer passengers Starlink ultra-high-speed, low-latency internet. Starlink
is free to all passengers and operates from gate to gate.
The national carrier of the State of Qatar is also set to exceed its
initial target of three Starlink-equipped aircraft by introducing 12 Boeing
777-300s upgraded with this innovative service by the end of 2024. Qatar
Airways has further committed to rolling out the technology on its entire
Boeing 777 fleet in 2025 – one year ahead of schedule – with the Airbus A350
fleet following in the summer of 2025.
This significant move highlights Qatar Airways’ commitment to
bridging the gap between the skies and the ground by offering ultra-high-speed,
low-latency internet.
Engineered
by SpaceX, Starlink is the world's first and largest satellite constellation
using a low Earth orbit that will provide passengers reliable,
high-speed internet so they can stay connected with friends and family, stream
their favourite entertainment, watch live sports, play online games, or work
efficiently at 35,000 feet – all for free and with a simple ‘one-click-access’.
Qatar Airways’ Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed
Al-Meer, said: “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 roll-out
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.”
Leveraging advanced satellites with its deep
experience with both spacecraft and on-orbit operations, Starlink delivers
internet access around the world, including over oceans and other remote
locations previously unreachable by traditional cell or Wi-Fi signals. “Overtime you'll find
it just gets better and better. This is the minimum and it only gets better
from here,” said SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.
With the launch of its first Starlink-equipped flight, Qatar
Airways has achieved several industry-firsts, including:
· World’s first Starlink equipped Boeing Widebody 777
· First Starlink on Qatar Airways passenger aircraft
· First Starlink equipped passenger aircraft in the MENA region
· First Starlink Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for a Boeing
aircraft
· Largest passenger aircraft equipped with Starlink
· Longest range Starlink equipped passenger aircraft
As the first-ever service of its kind in the MENA region, the
collaboration with Starlink, the world’s largest satellite internet
constellation engineered and operated by SpaceX, marks a new milestone for the
national carrier of the State of Qatar. This strategic initiative will further
elevate the airline’s unparalleled on-board experience.
This press release, along with accompanying multimedia files, was
dispatched directly from the first Starlink-equipped flight at 35,000 feet. The
Starlink-equipped aircraft will operate on select routes as the airline pushes
forward its roll-out plans. This will ensure more passengers have seamless
access to enhanced connectivity during their travels, elevating the Qatar
Airways’ award-winning on-board experience to new heights and setting a new
benchmark for in-flight excellence.
