Qatar Airways will become the largest airline to offer Starlink’s high-speed satellite internet on board, the companies announced Tuesday.
Starlink’s service will provide free Wi-Fi speeds up to 350 megabits per second, allowing passengers to stream videos, play online games and access VPNs.
“Qatar Airways is proud to announce its agreement with Starlink to provide seamless and complimentary Wi-Fi to its global passengers,” said Qatar Airways Group CEO Akbar Al Baker in a statement. “We look forward to our passengers benefitting from this state-of-the-art addition to Qatar Airways’ in-flight experience.”
Starlink is a satellite internet constellation operated by SpaceX. Its network aims to provide internet access across the globe.
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The rollout will begin on select Qatar Airways aircraft and routes. Passengers will have instant access to the high-speed Wi-Fi with a single click, the companies said.
“Qatar Airways continues to lead the way prioritizing the passenger experience,” said SpaceX Vice President Jonathan Hofeller. “With Starlink set to support the entire Qatar Airways fleet, passengers traveling between over 160 destinations around the world will be able to stay connected.”
Qatar Airways flies to over 160 destinations worldwide. It is the first Middle Eastern airline to receive the Skytrax Airline of the Year title.
The airline is the latest to partner with Starlink, which also provides service for JSX, Hawaiian Airlines, airBaltic and ZIPAIR.
Starlink has launched over 3,000 satellites since 2019 and aims to deploy up to 42,000. SpaceX has regulatory approval for up to 12,000 satellites for the Starlink constellation.
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