While exact details remain limited, Qatar Airways has announced an exciting development for its inflight Wi-Fi.
In this post:
Qatar Airways will offer free high speed Wi-Fi
Qatar Airways has revealed that it will introduce Starlink Wi-Fi, making this the largest airline in the world to collaborate with SpaceX on Wi-Fi. Not only will Starlink offer offer speeds of up to 350 megabits per second for gaming, VPN access, sports streaming, and more, but Qatar Airways intends to offer this Wi-Fi on a complimentary basis, with one-click access.
Qatar Airways will be the fifth airline to partner with Starlink, as it’s also currently available or being introduced on JSX, Hawaiian Airlines, airBaltic, and ZIPAIR.
Here’s how Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker describes this development:
“Qatar Airways is proud to announce its agreement with Starlink to provide seamless and complimentary Wi-Fi to its global passengers. This exciting collaboration is not only in line with our industry-leading approach to technological adoption, but also serves as an unmissable opportunity to connect Starlink to our global passengers. We look forward to our passengers benefitting from this state-of-the-art addition to Qatar Airways’ in-flight experience.”
For context, Qatar Airways’ fleet is currently primarily outfitted with Inmarsat’s GX aviation technology, which the airline refers to as “Super Wi-Fi.” This typically costs $10 for a flight, with no data caps. Some of Qatar Airways’ other aircraft have OnAir Wi-Fi, which is quite slow.
Which Qatar Airways plans will get Starlink Wi-Fi?
There’s a bit of a question mark as to which Qatar Airways planes will feature Starlink Wi-Fi, as the press release contradicts itself. Qatar Airways states that Starlink will be offered “on specified aircraft and routes,” suggesting that the plan isn’t to introduce this on all planes.
However, the press release also quotes SpaceX’s VP of Commercial Sales, Jonathan Hofeller, who states the following:
“Qatar Airways continues to lead the way prioritizing the passenger experience. With Starlink set to support the entire Qatar Airways fleet, passengers travelling between over 150 destinations around the world will be able to stay connected with the most advance high-speed internet service from space. In fact, as soon as passengers step onboard the plane the internet works seamlessly throughout their flight from gate to gate, and all from the comfort of their seats.”
So I’ll work on getting some clarity here, but Qatar Airways seems to think Starlink is coming to select aircraft, while SpaceX seems to think that it’s coming to the entire fleet.
Bottom line
Qatar Airways has revealed plans to introduce SpaceX’s Starlink Wi-Fi. Not only should this mean we’ll see some very high speed Wi-Fi, but Qatar Airways also intends to offer this on a complimentary basis. This will be a very nice competitive advantage for Qatar Airways when it’s rolled out. The big question is which aircraft will get this, as that’s not clear as of now.
What do you make of Qatar Airways introducing free Starlink Wi-Fi?
It'll be interesting to see how "high speed" this actually is. According to SpaceX, Starlink can deliver speeds of "up to" 350 Mbps per plane. After the effects of variability, Wi-Fi and significantly more usage of a service that no longer costs extra, I'd expect real speeds to be well under 500Kbps.
Your estimate of 500Kbps is not even close to what can be achieved with Starlink. I have been using Starlink at home for over 2 years. Speed has always been consistently greater than 50Mbps, often hitting 250Mbps. The service is provided by low earth orbiting satellites, not geostationary so ping time is minimal and upload speeds are also good, usually around 15Mbps. Coverage and speeds have been maintained or improved with regular satellite launches and...
Your estimate of 500Kbps is not even close to what can be achieved with Starlink. I have been using Starlink at home for over 2 years. Speed has always been consistently greater than 50Mbps, often hitting 250Mbps. The service is provided by low earth orbiting satellites, not geostationary so ping time is minimal and upload speeds are also good, usually around 15Mbps. Coverage and speeds have been maintained or improved with regular satellite launches and a new generation of satellites. I can't speak about how Qatar handles in-flight wifi but it seems adequate at the moment to deal with Starlink. When PC Mag tested JSX’s Starlink in March 2023 they recorded 78.7Mbps down, 3.5Mbps up, and 23ms ping. So your estimate seems well off the mark
Nobody should be promoting Qatar Airways; or flying with them, for that matter; until they hand Ismail Haniyeh and the rest of the Hamas terrorist leaders hiding in Qatar over to Israel.
Qatar Airways is owned by the Government of Qatar, and are therefore a legitimate target for a boycott. Don't support people who shelter the architects of mass murder.
Unfortunately, it seems that lot of Ben's more "progressive" readers are firmly on the side of the Jew-hating terrorists.
Hamas AND Qatar are responsible for the deaths and injuries of thousands Israeli and Palestinians children and women!
DO NOT SUPPORT THEM!!!!!
Personally, I prefer Lufthansa’s A330 business class over Qsuites.
Please tell me you are joking.
No way! The modern seats, the restaurant-quality food, the impeccable service. Lufthansa business class (especially the intra-European business class) is like a five-star hotel in the sky!
Joking confirmed!
That's interesting, I'd love to know why!
I'd say it's fairly obvious why. Lufthansa has a better hard product (roomier seat, more selective IFE, gourmet cuisine) and soft product (young, attractive flight attendants, there at a moment's notice) than Qatar, or any airline for that matter.
What has the attractiveness of the crew have to do with anything ? So you would put looks over ability. I assume you’re joking Lufthansa’s first over AF La premiere or Qatar Qsuites lol
Very cool! Would be interesting to see an Alliance partner with 1 wifi carrier. Like all of OneWorld with Starlink/Inmarsat/Panasonic/etc. I wouldn't mind paying say 10-15% more for a pass that allowed me to login once for a day of flights on partners, a whole trip pass that worked on all flights for my RT's, or even an annual pass that worked across the Alliance.
Ben/Lucky, has anything like this ever been proposed before?...
Very cool! Would be interesting to see an Alliance partner with 1 wifi carrier. Like all of OneWorld with Starlink/Inmarsat/Panasonic/etc. I wouldn't mind paying say 10-15% more for a pass that allowed me to login once for a day of flights on partners, a whole trip pass that worked on all flights for my RT's, or even an annual pass that worked across the Alliance.
Ben/Lucky, has anything like this ever been proposed before? Or do the airlines like getting their individual emails/currencies/passenger data?
Don't fly with them! They support Hamas and the killing of innocent Israelis and Palestinians!!!!! Qatar is a terrorist country!
Huh? Are they the official airline of Hamas? Like some kind of sponsorship deal? I don't get it.
Hamas terrorist leaders are living in Qatar, and since Qatar is an absolute monarchy, they are obviously living there with the approval of the Emir. Since the Emir and his subjects also own the national airline, it's a legitimate target for political action. Don't fly them, and Ben, please stop promoting them.
The leaders of Hamas live a life of luxury in Doha from where they organize their terrorist attacks. That's in addition to all the money Qatar sends to Hamas. Shameful.
I agree! It's time for Qatar to join the Western world in ridding the world of Hamas terrorists and not enabling theor leaders to live a cushy life in luxury hotels in Qatar using money they stole from aid money to poor Gazan who they persecute (and bomb while trying to escape war caused by Hamas).
Not relevant to this- keep your politics out of this