‍DOHA — Qatar Airways (QR) has become the first airline globally to equip the Boeing 787-8 with Starlink, while also completing the world’s first Airbus A350 Starlink installation program, further cementing its position as the industry leader in high-speed in-flight connectivity.

The Doha-based carrier now operates nearly 120 Starlink-equipped widebody aircraft, spanning Airbus A350s, Boeing 777s, and Boeing 787 Dreamliners. The rollout means more than 58% of the airline’s widebody fleet now offers ultra-high-speed connectivity at speeds of up to 500 Mbps, enabling gate-to-gate internet access on long- and ultra-long-haul routes across six continents, subject to local regulations.

First-of-Its-Kind Installations

Following its Boeing 777 linkage program, QR completed the entire A350 Starlink installation within eight months, finishing in December 2025. The airline has now extended the technology to its 787 fleet, with three Boeing 787-8s already flying with Starlink, making QR the first carrier worldwide to secure Starlink certification on the 787-8.

Within 14 months, QR launched and completed Starlink installations on the Boeing 777 and Airbus A350, before expanding the program to the 787, marking what the airline describes as the fastest widebody connectivity rollout in aviation history.

Over 11 Million Passengers Connected

Since the airline launched its Starlink service in October 2024, it says more than 11 million of its passengers have used the complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi onboard. In a global context, Starlink connected approximately 21 million airline passengers in 2025, with Qatar Airways accounting for nearly half of that total, underscoring the scale of its deployment relative to the wider industry.

Passengers on Starlink-equipped aircraft can stream, video call, and work in real time, with performance that the airline says can exceed many home broadband connections. The service is now available on flights to most of QR’s destinations in the Americas and Australia, as well as on key routes across Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.

Operational Benefits Beyond the Cabin

Beyond the passenger experience, Starlink is also reshaping Qatar Airways’ internal operations. Real-time connectivity enables instant flight and roster updates to crew devices, improves coordination between cabin crew and ground teams during medical or service-related events, and enables engineering teams to monitor in-flight entertainment systems in real time, allowing issues to be addressed before aircraft land.

These capabilities are designed to improve decision-making, reduce delays, and enhance turnaround efficiency,  extending the impact of in-flight connectivity well beyond customer-facing services.