Qatar Airways announced today that the carrier’s much anticipated rollout of Starlink Wi-Fi is progressing well ahead of schedule.
The Doha based carrier launched its first Starlink equipped flight back in October 2024 and has just equipped its 30th aircraft with the high speed internet service. This represents more than 50% of its Boeing 777 fleet.
Qatar Airways initially set an aggressive target of converting 12 aircraft in the last two months of 2024 and managed to surpass that by 25%, delivering 15 Starlink conversions to round out the year. According to the airline, they have been able to cut the installation timeline from 48-72 hours down to just 9.5 hours.
The airline initially planned to complete the conversions in Q4 2026 but, due to the accelerated install timeline, Starlink internet is expected to be available across the carrier’s Boeing 777 fleet by Q2 2025.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer said this about the current state of the rollout while speaking at Web Summit Qatar 2025:
“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.”
The airline has also stated that its Airbus A350 fleet will begin receiving Starlink connectivity sometime in Summer 2025, though no additional information has been provided on how long those retrofits will take. Curiously, there has been no mention of the airline’s Boeing 787 fleet in conversations around Starlink service.
Summary
Qatar Airways has accelerated the installation of Starlink Wi-Fi across its Boeing 777 fleet. The Doha based carrier is expected to finish 777 retrofits in Q2 2025 before moving on to its Airbus A350 fleet. While I still haven’t been on a Starlink equipped flight, the service has received rave reviews.
(Images courtesy Qatar Airways)