Qatar Airways, the country’s flag airline, launched the world’s first B777 Starlink-equipped aircraft from Doha to London on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, pushing the boundaries of in-flight connectivity. The first Starlink-equipped commercial flight operated by Qatar Airways was announced to the media from 35,000 feet utilizing Starlink. This time, however, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and Qatar Airways Group CEO Engineer Badr Mohammed Al-Meer had a video conference.
As you are aware, users worldwide can access high-speed, low-latency internet using Starlink. It is the most cutting-edge broadband internet infrastructure in the world, designed and run by SpaceX, and it will be very beneficial to customers flying with Qatar Airways. Passengers can work smoothly at 35,000 feet, stream their favorite shows and live sports, play online games, and stay entertained and in touch with friends and family during their trip—all for free.
Engineer Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, Group CEO of Qatar Airways, stated, “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 inflight experience that transcends the constraints of traditional air travel.”
By the end of 2024, Qatar Airways plans to have 12 B777-300s upgraded with this advanced service, surpassing its original goal of three Starlink-equipped aircraft. In addition, the complete fleet of B777s will be equipped with this technology in 2025, with the A350 fleet to follow in the summer of the same year.
CEO of SpaceX Elon Musk stated, “Overtime you’ll find it just gets better and better. This is the minimum and it only gets better from here.”
By partnering with Starlink, the largest satellite internet constellation in the world, which was designed and run by SpaceX, Qatar Airways, has achieved a new milestone as the first service provider of its kind in the Mena Region. Internet connection is provided globally by Starlink, including across oceans and other isolated areas that were previously inaccessible by conventional mobile or Wi-Fi transmissions. As the airline moves forward with its roll-out plans, the Starlink-equipped aircraft will fly on specific routes.
Qatar Airways, the World’s Best Airline 2024, sets a new standard for customer comfort by incorporating modern technologies.
By: Rida Khan (Aviation Author)
Instagram A/c: aviationauthor.ridakhan
