Dec 3, 2024, 1:26 am

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QR and Starlink - Now live

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Jan 7, 2026 | 4:20 am

#346

QatarA340

Join Date: Apr 2009

Location: Doha, Qatar

Programs: QR Platinum

Posts: 954

Quote:

Qatar Airways launches world’s first Starlink-equipped Boeing 787, completes Airbus A350 Starlink rollout

So officially all A350s have Starlink, and according to the article, 3 787s are equipped with it. It look 8 months for the A350s to be equipped, and I would expect the same for the 787s. So, by Summer all widebodies sans the A330s and leased 777s would have Starlink.

Qatar Airways launches world’s first Starlink-equipped Boeing 787, completes Airbus A350 Starlink rollout | The Peninsula Qatar

Singapore_Air likes this.

Jan 7, 2026 | 5:02 am

#347

nilsfr69

Join Date: Nov 2017

Location: Berlin

Programs: BAC Silver, Marriott LTP, QR Plat

Posts: 1,273

welcome to hell

Jan 7, 2026 | 10:55 am

#348

DYKWIA

Ambassador: Emirates Airlines

Join Date: Sep 2004

Location: Manchester, UK

Posts: 19,790

Quote:

Originally Posted by QatarA340

A380s still missing

Jan 7, 2026 | 9:52 pm

#349

QatarA340

Join Date: Apr 2009

Location: Doha, Qatar

Programs: QR Platinum

Posts: 954

Quote:

Originally Posted by DYKWIA

A380s still missing

There is still no news on the A380s. They seem to be like the A330s--unwanted but necessary. lol

I would expect the A380s to be more complex in installation and because there are 8 of them only, it will be hard to remove one from service for this.

Jan 8, 2026 | 12:34 am

#350

N1Rotate

Join Date: Dec 2009

Posts: 905

The A380 didn't have an STC and it wasn't worthwhile for QR to invest time and money on one for only 8 aircraft which are planned to be withdrawn starting 2028. Starlink has more demand than it can handle so for them it also wasn't a priority either. QR went with a different solution for the A380 that was already certified.

Things changed now that EK has committed to install Starlink on their fleet, they will develop the A380 STC. It will be question of if QR decide its worth it with only a couple more years of service left, the constraint is how fast Starlink delivers the kits with the huge backlog they have and QR might prioritise other aircraft in their fleet.

fridgy likes this.

Jan 8, 2026 | 1:22 am

#351

QatarA340

Join Date: Apr 2009

Location: Doha, Qatar

Programs: QR Platinum

Posts: 954

I wonder if QR will install Starlink in its narrowbody planes--those will be a game changer, especially since they fly all over the place including Europe.

Yes, QR will receive their A321s soon, but the current A320s are barely reaching their mid-life, so they have plenty of years left in them.

As for the A380s they tend to be odd-ball planes assigned randomly to different destinations, where the classic destinations of LHR, CGD, SYD, BKK and then you have randomly SIN and more fights to BKK. To me, I feel QR will retire them sooner than later once more A350-1000s arrive.

Singapore_Air likes this.

Jan 8, 2026 | 3:40 am

#352

JKG

Join Date: Feb 2015

Location: HIA / ATH

Programs: Privilege Club, Miles&Bonus

Posts: 143

Quote:

Originally Posted by QatarA340

Still waiting to hear what's the new CEO's view on the A380s (or on any topic on that matter... haven't heard anything from him). So far the previous 2 CEOs had quite varying opinions

Jan 8, 2026 | 3:50 am

#353

ph-ndr

Join Date: Dec 2002

Programs: QR Plat

Posts: 2,883

deleted.

Last edited by ph-ndr; Jan 8, 2026 at 3:54 am Reason: Thread creep.

Jan 17, 2026 | 10:14 am

#354

avm2806

Join Date: Oct 2007

Location: LONDON

Programs: CX DM, BA G4L, QR PLT, EK PLT, Hyatt CC, HH DM, SQ SLTRE, BonvoyTit, UK SL, VS Wings, UA, DL, AA

Posts: 1,756

any update on the 789'S? Crew told me they flew one that had it, but I am uncertain if that info accurate or not

Jan 18, 2026 | 1:18 am

#355

venturewithdom

Join Date: Apr 2025

Location: London

Programs: BA Gold

Posts: 52

Quote:

Originally Posted by avm2806

any update on the 789'S? Crew told me they flew one that had it, but I am uncertain if that info accurate or not

I'm also curious about this. How is the data in the pinned post on this thread populated? Is it based on users reporting it based on their experience? fridgy are you able to share please? (and thank you for maintaining the list!)

Jan 18, 2026 | 1:42 am

#356

fridgy

Join Date: Jul 2017

Location: PRG

Programs: SE+, SEN, AS Titanium, HH Diamond

Posts: 529

Quote:

Originally Posted by venturewithdom

How is the data in the pinned post on this thread populated? fridgy are you able to share please? (and thank you for maintaining the list!)

I do have some internal sources in the company and I also update it based on users reports. And also a lot of my friends are flying QR frequently.

B787-9 dont have certification yet as far as I know.. But they might start installing them directly onto the new aircraft coming from Charleston. So the 1x B789 could be A7-BHZ but not sure.
(most likely they would install it right after they arrive in DOH within the 2week ground works.)

nilsfr69 likes this.

Jan 18, 2026 | 1:15 pm

#357

venturewithdom

Join Date: Apr 2025

Location: London

Programs: BA Gold

Posts: 52

Got it - well thank you for keeping this thread up to date, it's very helpful info!

nilsfr69 likes this.

Jan 18, 2026 | 11:00 pm

#358

QatarA340

Join Date: Apr 2009

Location: Doha, Qatar

Programs: QR Platinum

Posts: 954

I wonder if any narrowbodies will be installed with it?

The new A321s perhaps considering they are a new CAPEX expenditure, but the current A320s are not old, and still have many years left in them.

Jan 19, 2026 | 12:24 am

#359

Kmct111

Join Date: Aug 2024

Programs: Qatar privilege Platinum, Etihad Guest Gold, Hilton Diamond

Posts: 777

Quote:

Originally Posted by QatarA340

I wonder if any narrowbodies will be installed with it?

The new A321s perhaps considering they are a new CAPEX expenditure, but the current A320s are not old, and still have many years left in them.

If you are referring to the ex Air Asia slave ships - i hope not and fingers crossed they donate them to Indigo. For the new 321s coming in I would think they get them as they intend to fly them on medium haul sectors where wide body aircraft doesnt make sense.

Feb 7, 2026 | 10:23 am

#360

Pk20

Join Date: Feb 2026

Posts: 4

A7-BCJ

Flew BCJ 788 today and can confirm no Starlink installed