By the end of the year, some Qatar Airways passengers can enjoy fast, free Wi-Fi.
Qatar’s national carrier confirmed at the Aircraft Interior Expo in Hamburg, Germany, that it would begin installing Starlink Wi-Fi on select aircraft — here’s what you should know.
Qatar Plans Free Wi-Fi for All Passengers
Even in a world where everyone wants to be connected at all times, complimentary Wi-Fi in the sky is rare, especially when flying economy. When Wi-Fi is available, it will often come at a cost, and speeds can be slow.
Qatar Airways hopes to make slow Wi-Fi a thing of the past for its passengers when it installs Starlink’s super fast, low-latency Wi-Fi on 3 of its Boeing 777-300 jets by the end of 2024 before eventually rolling the service out fleetwide.
“This exciting collaboration with Starlink is a testament to our customer-first mindset and commitment to elevating our passengers’ experience to unprecedented heights, as we continue furthering our innovative offerings to meet and exceed passengers’ expectations throughout their journey with Qatar Airways,” said Badr Mohammed Al Meer, CEO at Qatar Airways Group.
Qatar Airways’ first-class passengers already enjoy unlimited free Wi-Fi onboard. However, the speeds attainable through the current provider leave much to be desired.
While this is exciting news for frequent Qatar Airways flyers, Qatar has nearly 60 Boeing 777-300 jets in service. Therefore, the chances of being on 1 of the 3 with free Wi-Fi will be pretty slim.
That said, the Middle East is home to 3 of the world’s biggest airlines. Qatar Airways’ introduction of fast, complimentary Wi-Fi for all passengers could go a long way toward differentiating them from the competition.
Other airlines worldwide, such as Latvia-based AirBaltic, Air New Zealand, Hawaiian Airlines, JSX, and Japan’s ZIPAIR, readily use Starlink Wi-Fi, but Qatar now claims to be the largest carrier to host the service.
Hot Tip:
From no Wi-Fi at all to costly annual passes, the availability of inflight connectivity onboard can vary greatly. Read our in-depth guide on how inflight Wi-Fi works in the sky — and how much it will cost you — across your favorite U.S. airlines.
Final Thoughts
Qatar’s rollout of complimentary Wi-Fi for all will be a welcome move for many flyers, even if it will only be available on 3 of its aircraft by the end of the year. Starlink is known for offering the fastest speeds, so we’re excited to try it out for ourselves very soon.
