(NEWS) DOHA, 2026-Jan-7 — /Travel PR News/ — Qatar Airways has reached another industry milestone by becoming the first airline globally to install Starlink connectivity on Boeing 787-8 aircraft, extending its high-speed inflight internet offering across an even broader portion of its long-haul fleet. According to information shared by the airline, three Boeing 787 Dreamliners are already operating with Starlink, following the successful completion of the world’s first Airbus A350 Starlink installation programme earlier this year.
Building on its earlier Boeing 777 rollout, Qatar Airways completed the entire Airbus A350 Starlink installation in a record eight months, finalised in December 2025. Within just 14 months, the carrier has started and completed Starlink installations across its Boeing 777 and Airbus A350 fleets before expanding the technology to the Boeing 787, marking what the airline describes as the fastest and most ambitious widebody Starlink rollout in global aviation history.
The expansion positions Qatar Airways as the operator of the world’s largest Starlink-equipped widebody fleet, with nearly 120 aircraft — representing more than 58 percent of its widebody fleet — now offering ultra-high-speed connectivity. Based on official details released by the airline, passengers onboard Airbus A350s, Boeing 777s, and Boeing 787s can access complimentary, gate-to-gate Wi-Fi speeds of up to 500 Mbps, enabling streaming, video calls, and real-time productivity on long- and ultra-long-haul routes across six continents.
The scale of the rollout has already had a tangible impact on travellers. Since launching the service in October 2024, more than 11 million Qatar Airways passengers have experienced the onboard connectivity. In 2025 alone, Starlink connected over 21 million airline passengers worldwide, with Qatar Airways accounting for nearly half of those users — making it the largest contributor to Starlink-enabled inflight connectivity globally.
Beyond the passenger experience, the airline notes that Starlink is also transforming real-time operations behind the scenes. According to company updates, instant flight and roster updates improve crew coordination, real-time connectivity supports faster decision-making during inflight service or medical situations, and engineers are now able to monitor inflight entertainment systems mid-flight, allowing recovery plans to be prepared before landing and reducing turnaround times.
The achievement further strengthens Qatar Airways’ position as a technology leader in long-haul aviation and builds on its recognition as the Skytrax World’s Best Airline for the ninth time in 2025. With Starlink now extending to its Boeing 787-8 fleet, the airline continues to set the benchmark for inflight connectivity while reinforcing its strategy of combining innovation, scale, and service consistency across its global network.
