Qatar Airways has equipped 150 widebody jets with Starlink aircraft Wi-Fi across its long-haul network, while in parallel, Royal Air Maroc prepares Africa’s first commercial rollout, demonstrating how aviation satellite internet is now becoming a competitive standard for global carriers.
The Doha-based airline has moved to expand its service since launching its first Starlink-equipped flight in October 2024, as aircraft internet pivots from an optional perk to a core part of the passenger experience, especially on long-haul routes where reliable connectivity has been hard to deliver.
Qatar Airways Builds an Early Lead
Qatar Airways has installed Starlink across its Airbus A350-900 and A350-1000 aircraft, Boeing 777-300ER and 777-200LR jets, and Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners. The carrier became the first airline to introduce Starlink on aircraft of the Boeing 787-9 type, with fleetwide installations expected by the end of 2026.
That schedule would bring the airline’s Starlink aviation plans to 175 aircraft within just over two years. The rollout supports as many as 323 flights each day, giving passengers free gate-to-gate connectivity at speeds reaching 500 Mbps.
More than 23 million passengers have used the connection across 86,000 flights, placing Qatar Airways among the leading airlines with Starlink connectivity, showing how quickly high-speed connectivity is becoming a standard service rather than a premium extra.
Questions remain over its Airbus A330 and A380 fleets. Qatar Airways has not confirmed whether those older jets will receive aircraft Wi-Fi, partly because both types face uncertain long-term roles as the airline favors more fuel-efficient twin-engine aircraft.
Emirates is following with a commitment to equip 232 Boeing 777 and Airbus A380 aircraft by mid-2027. It has connected one million customers and installed the service on 33 Boeing 777s and three A380s, with “more aircraft with Starlink taking flight every week”.
Etihad has chosen Viasat’s Amara solution instead, covering most of its widebody and narrowbody fleet. That contrast shows that Starlink for planes is gaining ground quickly, but Gulf carriers are still taking different technical and commercial paths.
Royal Air Maroc Takes Starlink into Africa
Royal Air Maroc will progressively install Starlink on airplane fleets under an agreement finalized after months of negotiations and onboard testing. The August 4 deal makes Morocco’s national carrier the first commercial airline in Africa to adopt SpaceX’s low Earth orbit satellite network.
The airline aims to complete deployment across its commercial fleet by 2027, one year earlier than its previous plan to begin inflight connectivity in 2028. The accelerated Starlink aviation plans will run alongside the expected delivery of around 100 new Boeing aircraft over the coming years.
For passengers, aviation satellite internet promises lower latency and enough speed for streaming, web browsing, social media and remote work. Starlink’s inter-satellite laser links also help maintain service across oceans and remote areas where traditional connections can struggle.
Royal Air Maroc now joins major airlines with Starlink, including Qatar Airways, Emirates, Air France, United Airlines and British Airways. Its entry also gives SpaceX an important African aviation customer as satellite connectivity becomes part of fleet modernization decisions.
Across the broader market, nearly 50 carriers are installing or preparing the service. Lufthansa has begun deployment across 850 existing and future aircraft, while airBaltic has completed installations on all 55 of its Airbus A220-300 jets, strengthening demand for Starlink inflight Wi-Fi.
Still, adoption is not universal. Delta selected Amazon Leo, KLM retained Viasat, and Ryanair rejected the system for now. EasyJet Chief Executive Kenton Jarvis said, “the economics aren’t quite working for us”, highlighting the cost concerns surrounding aircraft Wi-Fi on price-sensitive short-haul operations.
Qatar Airways’ rapid rollout gives it a customer-experience advantage across long-haul travel. Royal Air Maroc brings aircraft internet to Africa.
The spread of Starlink on aircraft signals reliable Wi-Fi. Aircraft Wi-Fi is moving closer to an expected feature.
For Qatar Airways, the remaining decision concerns whether ageing A330s and A380s justify further investment. For the wider sector, aircraft Wi-Fi is becoming another measure by which passengers compare airlines, placing pressure on carriers that delay upgrades or select slower alternatives.
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