After completing Starlink Wi-Fi installation across its fleet of 54 Boeing 777s in July 2025, Qatar Airways swiftly moved on to begin the connectivity upgrade across its 62 Airbus A350s.
Qatar Airways made light work of the 777 upgrade, completing the project in nine months after the installation was initially scheduled to take two years.
Continuing with the project at pace, on January 7, 2026, the carrier announced that all A350-900s and A350-1000s had been fitted with Elon Musk’s lightning-quick satellite powered Wi-Fi.
According to the Qatar flag carrier, the entire A350 upgrade was completed in December 2025, within a “record-breaking” eight months.
What’s more Qatar Airways confirmed that work had already begun on installing Starlink on its fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliners – a first for the global aviation market.
So far, three Boeing 787 Dreamliners are now operational with Starlink bringing the total Qatar Airways widebodies with the technology to just shy of 120 aircraft.
“Within just 14 months, Qatar Airways started and completed the Boeing 777 and Airbus A350 Starlink installation programmes, and then expanded to its Boeing 787 Dreamliners,” said a spokesperson for Qatar Airways.
Qatar Airways achieved a series of industry firsts in inflight connectivity: launching the world’s first 787-8 Dreamliner equipped with @Starlink, completing the A350 rollout programme, and connecting over 11 million global passengers with the fastest wi-fi in the sky.
With… pic.twitter.com/8IpLlITZ3v— Qatar Airways (@qatarairways) January 7, 2026
They added: “This progress cements the airline’s position as the global leader in Starlink-enabled long-haul and ultra-long-haul connectivity while also achieving the world’s first and largest Starlink-equipped A350 fleet – building on Qatar Airways’ legacy as the aircraft’s global launch customer.”
According to the carrier, so far over 10 million Qatar Airways passengers have utilized the complimentary service.
Benefits of Starlink to flight and cabin crews
Qatar Airways flight and cabin staff are also benefitting from the upgraded technology with real-time data and information accessible during their journey.
Flight and roster updates are delivered instantly to crew’s devices, ensuring increased operational alignment throughout every journey.
There is also now enhanced cabin crew co-ordination with ground teams in real time during medical or service-related situations, enabling faster decision-making and reducing delays.
And engineers on the ground can monitor the inflight entertainment system during flights and prepare recovery plans before landing, improving turnaround efficiency.
