The World’s Best Airline as voted by SkyTrax 2024 has just proved themselves as more ahead of the game. In partnership with Starlink, Qatar Airways takes connectivity to a new level.
The airline launched the first operational Starlink Boeing 777 aircraft on 22 October 2024, en route to London. Passengers could stream their favourite shows and live sports, enjoy online gaming, message friends and family and work seamlessly. All of that at 35 000 feet above ground.
Suddenly, the gap between land and air shrunk with this new technology that allows a greater sense of connectivity besides the physical.
Engineered by SpaceX, Starlink delivers reliable high-speed, but low-latency internet access around the world. This includes across oceans and in other remote locations previously thought unreachable.
It operates by using the world’s first and largest constellation in Earth’s lower orbit, allowing for a new type of connectivity besides the traditional data or Wi-Fi signals.
SpaceX CEO and founder of Starlink, Elon Musk, says: “Over time, you’ll find it just gets better and better. This is the minimum.”
Qatar Airways is committed to offering passengers an elevated on-board experience. Therefore, partnering with Starlink provides more convenience and comfort to their travellers, which has always been a priority.
Group CEO, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, says: “This milestone, paired with our commitment to rapidly roll-out Starlink across our entire modern fleet, demonstrated our relentless pursuit of offering passengers an in-flight experience that transcends the constraints of traditional air travel.”
The airline has plans to upgrade twelve Boeing 777-300s with Starlink by the end of 2024. Furthermore, they hope to extend this technology to their entire Boeing 777 fleet in 2025. Thereafter, the Airbus A350 fleet will be upgraded a few months later.
Al-Meer said that providing seamless internet onboard, the airline is connecting people to the things they love the most, irrespective of their displacement.
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