News

Qatar Airways Flies The World’s First Starlink-Equipped 787-9

With 150 widebodies fitted and over 23 million passengers online since 2024, the Gulf carrier is close to making free satellite Wi-Fi standard fleetwide.

Published

2 months ago

August 21, 2026

Nour Nasir

qatar airways flies the world's first starlink equipped 787-9

For most of commercial aviation’s modern history, closing the cabin door meant leaving the internet behind. Qatar Airways has spent nearly two years dismantling that idea, and this week it logged another first.

The Doha-based carrier has become the first airline in the world to operate a Starlink-equipped Boeing 787-9, and has finished fitting its 787-8 sub-fleet in seven months. That takes its Starlink-equipped widebody count to 150. More than half of its 787 fleet now carries the system, with the rest on track for completion by the end of 2026.

The airline upgraded its Boeing 777s in just nine months and its Airbus A350s in eight, and now operates the world’s first and largest Starlink-enabled fleets of all three types. The wider program has passed 83 percent completion, with up to 323 Starlink flights operating daily.

Uptake has been swift. More than 23 million passengers have connected since the service launched in October 2024, across over 86,000 flights. At speeds of up to 500 Mbps, SpaceX’s low-Earth-orbit constellation delivers something closer to home broadband than the sluggish, metered Wi-Fi that long defined flying. Qatar Airways was also the first carrier to offer Starlink on long-haul and ultra-long-haul routes across six continents, from the Americas and Australasia to gateways across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

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There are, of course, a few caveats. The Wi-Fi is free and gate-to-gate, but access runs through Privilege Club authentication or enrollment, making onboard connectivity a subtle funnel into the airline’s loyalty program. Gate-to-gate coverage can also lapse at certain airports because of local regulatory requirements, and aircraft assignments on some routes may change for operational reasons.

With all that being said, it’s clear that satellite broadband is beginning to shift from novelty to standard fit, and competition among long-haul carriers is becoming less about whether the service exists, and more about bandwidth — meaning long flights are no longer an excuse to be unreachable.

Related Topics:Boeing Qatar Qatar Airways Starlink

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New Disney+ Streaming App Has Officially Launched In The UAE

The app’s recommendations now factor in what’s popular in the UAE, and a dedicated Junior Mode gives kids their own corner of Disney+.

Published

1 day ago

October 9, 2026

Dana Saadeh

Disney

A new Disney+ app has officially launched in the UAE, and subscribers can now keep watching their favorite titles when they travel. Disney+ says access extends across supported markets in Europe, the United States and beyond.

The app is built around a dynamic homepage and simpler navigation, with recommendations drawn from each customer’s viewing habits and what’s popular in the UAE. Content from Hulu and ESPN is now easier to find alongside Disney+’s own library, the company says. Audio and subtitles come in up to 25 languages, and supported devices get high-quality video and sound.

For families, the app includes Junior Mode, a dedicated, simplified version of Disney+ for younger viewers, built around age-appropriate shows and movies. It sits alongside existing controls such as PIN-protected profiles, customizable content ratings and account notifications when a profile is changed.

The catalog still spans Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, Hulu and FX. Returning series include Season 8 of “The Kardashians,” Season 23 of “Grey’s Anatomy” and Season 38 of “The Simpsons”. Also on the service are the second season of International Emmy and BAFTA Award-winning series “Rivals,” comedy “Only Murders in the Building,” Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Zootropolis 2” and 20th Century Studios’ “Send Help”.

Also Read: Best Video Streaming Services In The Middle East

Marvel Television’s “VisionQuest” is on the way, and Disney’s live-action “Moana” is due later this autumn. Beyond Hollywood, the Turkish title “Halef” is coming to the platform alongside a lineup of Korean entertainment: Korean-Japanese romantic comedy “Merry Berry Love” is streaming now, and “The Remarried Empress” arrives November 4.

Existing subscribers will be prompted to download the new app and sign in with their current credentials, with on-screen steps covering account confirmation and profile setup. Subscriptions start at AED 49.99 per month and can be canceled at any time.

For UAE subscribers planning to travel, the update will likely be well received, but Disney has left one question open. It confirms Europe and the United States as supported markets but doesn’t yet say which others fall under and beyond.