Qatar Airways will be the first Middle East carrier and the largest global airline to offer free, ultra-high-speed internet in the sky with SpaceX Starlink, starting with three of its Boeing 777-300 aircraft by the last quarter of the year.
Over the next two years, QR will progressively upgrade its entire fleet with the latest SpaceX-powered technology.
Passengers can use the high-speed and low-latency network with one-click access to enjoy inflight internet-based services such as streaming, online gaming and web browsing.
It follows Hawaiian Airlines as the world’s first major carrier to deploy the cutting-edge tech on its Airbus A321neo aircraft in February.
Air New Zealand has also announced plans to add the high-speed internet service.
Announcing the rollout date at the recent Aircraft Interior Expo in Hamburg, Qatar Airways Group CEO Badr Mohammed Al-Meer said: “This exciting collaboration is a testament to our customer-first mindset and commitment to elevating our passengers’ experience to unprecedented heights.”
“We continue furthering our innovative offerings to meet and exceed passengers’ expectations throughout their journey with Qatar Airways.”
SpaceX’s Starlink Engineering Vice President Mike Nicolls said: “High-speed, low-latency internet is the future of aviation connectivity and we’re excited to work with Qatar Airways to start flying Starlink on their fleet by the end of this year.”
“Soon, all Qatar Airways passengers will be able to enjoy all the benefits of the world’s best inflight connectivity from the comfort of their seats.”
QR was just named World’s Best Airline at the 2024 Airline Excellence Awards.
For more info, visit qatarairways.com
