In a groundbreaking collaboration, Qatar Airways, the leading Middle East airline, has joined forces with SpaceX’s Starlink, revolutionizing the in-flight experience. Through this partnership, Qatar Airways has become the world’s largest airline to offer Starlink’s cutting-edge satellite internet to its passengers, setting new standards in connectivity and convenience during air travel.
As Starlink’s high-speed satellite internet service takes flight in the aviation sector, Qatar Airways has emerged as its flagship client, spearheading a groundbreaking transformation in the airline industry. The integration of Starlink’s cutting-edge technology promises to revolutionize in-flight connectivity and services.
Already, airlines such as Hawaiian Airlines, airBaltic, JSX, and ZipAir Tokyo have embraced Starlink’s broadband internet service, but Qatar Airways now stands as the largest airline to fully embrace the revolutionary technology. This visionary partnership underscores Qatar Airways’ unwavering commitment to enhancing the passenger experience through the adoption of state-of-the-art technology.
Starlink’s entry into aviation represents a pivotal development within the company’s business segment. Customized solutions provided by SpaceX offer business customers global access to Starlink’s high-bandwidth internet. This bespoke service is made possible through tailored receivers and aviation-specific hardware, a far cry from the standard Starlink dish receiver. The cost of in-flight high-speed Starlink internet is set at $25,000 per month, with an additional $150,000 required for hardware installation on each aircraft.
While Starlink’s current receivers are designed for Gulfstream G650 & G650ER jets, the company’s aggressive expansion plans will see the development of receivers for various airframes in the coming years. This will ensure that a broader range of aircraft can enjoy the benefits of Starlink’s high-speed connectivity.
The following table provides insights into the future availability of Starlink aviation technology for various popular aircraft:
- Airbus A321Neo: Expected in Q4 2023
- Airbus A220: Anticipated in 2024
- Airbus A320: Projected availability in 2024 and beyond
- Airbus A330: Availability in 2024 and beyond
- ATR 72-500, 72-600: Accessible in 2024 and beyond
- Boeing 737: Expected in 2024 and beyond
- Boeing 757: Anticipated in 2024 and beyond
- Boeing 787: Projected availability in 2024 and beyond
- Boeing 777: Accessible in 2024 and beyond
- Bombardier Challenger 300/350: Availability in 2024 and beyond
- Bombardier Challenger 600, 601, 604, 605, 650: Accessible in 2024 and beyond
- Bombardier Global 5000: Expected in Q1 2024
- Bombardier Global 5500: Expected in Q1 2024
- Bombardier Global 6000: Expected in Q1 2024
- Bombardier Global 6500: Expected in Q1 2024
- Bombardier Global 7500: Expected in Q1 2024
- Bombardier Global Express: Anticipated in Q4 2023
- Bombardier Global Express XRS: Anticipated in Q4 2023
- Dassault Falcon 2000: Projected availability in 2024 and beyond
- De Havilland Canada Dash Q400 (8-400), Q300 (8-300): Accessible in 2024 and beyond
- Embraer ERJ-135: Currently available
- Embraer ERJ-145: Currently available
- Embraer Legacy: Projected availability in 2024 and beyond
- Embraer Phenom 300: Projected availability in 2024 and beyond
- Embraer Praetor: Projected availability in 2024 and beyond
- Gulfstream G450: Expected in Q4 2023
- Gulfstream G550: Expected in Q4 2023
- Gulfstream G650: Currently available
- Gulfstream G650ER: Currently available
- Gulfstream GIV: Accessible in 2024
- Gulfstream GV: Accessible in 2024
- All Other: Projected availability in 2024 and beyond
Qatar Airways’ commitment to this innovative technology reflects its dedication to delivering a state-of-the-art in-flight experience. As a testament to their industry-leading approach to technological adoption, the airline’s CEO, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, emphasized the remarkable impact of this collaboration. He expressed pride in connecting Qatar Airways to Starlink and the exciting prospects it offers passengers. Qatar Airways, with its 229-strong fleet of large Airbus and Boeing aircraft, is on the cusp of introducing a transformative element to air travel. This significant step reaffirms Qatar Airways’ position as a pioneer in delivering cutting-edge in-flight services to its passengers.
