Photo Credit : Emirates
Emirates has expanded its free Starlink-powered onboard WiFi service to more destinations across Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas as part of a major connectivity upgrade across its fleet.
The Dubai-based carrier announced on Friday that 33 aircraft are now equipped with the satellite-based internet system as of May 14, with plans to expand the technology to 232 aircraft in the coming years.
The rollout follows the launch of what Emirates described as the world’s first Airbus A380 fitted with Starlink internet connectivity. The upgraded aircraft recently returned to Dubai after completing installation and certification work in Newquay, United Kingdom.
According to Emirates, passengers travelling on Starlink-equipped aircraft can access the service free of charge across all cabin classes. The enhanced onboard connectivity allows travellers to stream live content, browse the internet, play online games, shop online, and work during flights while connecting multiple personal devices simultaneously.
The airline said the new system represents a significant improvement over previous onboard internet capabilities. The Airbus A380 installation uses three Starlink antennas and delivers more than 2 gigabits per second of bandwidth across the cabin, compared to earlier systems that provided less than 1 Mbps of total aircraft bandwidth.
Because of the A380’s double-decker configuration and higher passenger capacity, Emirates said the aircraft required additional wireless access points and an extra antenna compared to the airline’s Boeing 777 fleet.
So far, 25 Boeing 777-300ER aircraft have already been upgraded with Starlink connectivity, with additional installations scheduled throughout 2026.
The airline also revealed that future upgrades may include live television streaming through Starlink, initially accessible on passengers’ personal devices before later integration into seatback entertainment systems.
According to Emirates, more than 650,000 passengers have already travelled on Starlink-equipped flights.
The WiFi expansion forms part of Emirates’ wider fleet refurbishment programme. The airline said 93 aircraft have already undergone cabin upgrades, including the introduction of Premium Economy seating, refreshed Business Class cabins, and enhanced inflight entertainment systems.
