What's happened
On October 22, 2024, Qatar Airways launched its first flight equipped with Elon Musk's Starlink internet service, offering high-speed connectivity to passengers. The airline plans to roll out Starlink across its Boeing 777 fleet by the end of 2024, enhancing the in-flight experience significantly.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to The Independent, Qatar Airways is the first airline in the Middle East to offer Starlink, with CEO Badr Mohammed Al-Meer stating, "This milestone... demonstrates our relentless pursuit of offering passengers an in-flight experience that transcends the constraints of traditional air travel." Business Insider UK highlighted the practical benefits of Starlink, noting that passengers can make video calls and stream content without interruptions, a significant improvement over previous inflight internet services. Elon Musk emphasized the ongoing improvements to Starlink, suggesting that the service will only get better over time, which aligns with the airline's vision for enhanced connectivity.
How we got here
Qatar Airways has partnered with SpaceX to introduce Starlink internet on select flights, aiming to enhance passenger connectivity. This initiative marks a significant step in the airline's commitment to modernizing its fleet and improving the travel experience.
More on these topics
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Starlink is a satellite constellation being constructed by SpaceX to provide satellite Internet access. The constellation will consist of thousands of mass-produced small satellites in low Earth orbit, working in combination with ground transceivers.
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Elon Reeve Musk FRS is an engineer, industrial designer, technology entrepreneur and philanthropist. He is the founder, CEO, CTO and chief designer of SpaceX; early investor, CEO and product architect of Tesla, Inc.; founder of The Boring Company; co-foun
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Qatar Airways Company Q.C.S.C., operating as Qatar Airways, is the state-owned flag carrier of Qatar. Headquartered in the Qatar Airways Tower in Doha, the airline operates a hub-and-spoke network, linking over 150 international destinations across Africa
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The Boeing 777 is a wide-body airliner developed and manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes, commonly referred to as the Triple Seven.
The 777 was designed to bridge the gap between Boeing's 767 and 747, and to replace older DC-10s or L-1011s.