Putting Starlink to the test

On a flight this week from Perth to Doha with Qatar Airways, I finally got to put SpaceX’s Starlink high-speed, in-flight wi-fi to the test.

I have tried many in-flight connectivity systems over the years, with my interest in IFC first piqued many years ago while working for in-flight satellite communications pioneer Inmarsat (now Viasat).

And the verdict? It’s fast, it’s reliable and it’s free.

Using the service was easy, with one-click access and no cumbersome registration process, and my devices (phone and laptop) connecting straight away. The service proved reliable, with no dropouts on the numerous times I used it and no problems streaming video at various times of the journey.

Qatar now has more than 100 widebody aircraft — Boeing 777s and Airbus A350s — offering Starlink in a rapid installation program that saw the first aircraft re-enter service in October 2024. More than 50 per cent of its widebody fleet is Starlink equipped, operating more than 30,000 flights and up to 200 daily Starlink-connected flights. The 777 rollout is completed, with the airline’s Airbus A350 fleet now undergoing retrofit.

While Starlink promises high-speed, reliable IFC, it does have its limitations, with the service not available over the airspace of several countries, including China, India, Pakistan and Russia due to lack of government approval.

Qatar can no longer lay claim to being the only Starlink operator in the Middle East, with Dubai-based Emirates recently launching a fleetwide program on its 232 aircraft, starting in November with the Boeing 777s and rollout completion planned for mid-2027. The airline has embarked on an accelerated fleet-wide rollout, fitting about 14 aircraft per month, with installations on the Airbus A380 fleet to start in February.

Fellow Dubai-based carrier flydubai has also signed up for Starlink, with the service to be rolled out on its Boeing 737 fleet in 2026.