Emirates is the latest major airline to commit to a fleet-wide deployment of the Starlink inflight internet solution, confirming reports from earlier this year. The announcement came at the opening of the 2025 Dubai Air Show.
Partnering with Starlink is another defining moment in our continuous commitment to ensuring our customers ‘fly better’. We’re introducing the world’s fastest Wi-Fi, elevating what passengers can expect from inflight connectivity, like seamless productivity, real-time communication with loved ones, and uninterrupted connection to their digital lives.
– Sir Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline
As with other Starlink deployments the solution will be complimentary on board. Passengers will get online with a single-click. Unlike other recent airlines to announce Starlink deals, Emirates will not require a Skywards frequent flyer membership to connect.
The first aircraft – A6-EPF – is already installed and on display at the Dubai Air Show this week. It will enter service following the show, kicking off a rapid deployment program for the service. Emirates expects to fit approximately 14 aircraft per month, completing the full fleet conversion by mid-2027. The first A380 installs are expected from February 2026.
Emirates will install two Starlink antennae on each Boeing 777. For the Airbus A380s the carrier plans a three antenna configuration, “ensuring the highest levels of connectivity, capacity and coverage across every cabin class for a better customer experience.”
The 777s and A380s fly with a mix of services on board from Panasonic Avionics and SITAONAIR‘s IFC groups.
Switching up the Emirates A350s
As a full fleet deployment the service will also be deployed on the carrier’s A350s. Indeed, the company states Starlink will fly “on all its in-service fleet – comprising 232 aircraft in the next two years.” That 232 includes the A350s.
Those aircraft are brand new, currently carrying service from Viasat on the GX Aviation network, delivered through the HBCplus program. That deployment presented significant challenges, to the point that it is no longer an offerable option in the HBCplus program. Ultimately it will be swapped out on the Emirates planes just a couple years after installation. That’s an incredibly quick shift and speaks to the desire for a common experience on board as well as the performance challenges Emirates faced with the original service.
Increased Service Options
The upgraded internet service will enable Emirates to deliver live television content. The TV feed will stream over the Starlink connection to personal devices initially. Integration with the seatback screens is expected before the end of the year.
The carrier also shares promo images touting video calling on board.
How well that works vis a vis passenger interactions will be interesting to watch.
Notably, Emirates flies a number of routes into China, markets where Starlink is understood to be non-operational. How that plays into this move remains to be seen. A query to the carrier remains open at time of publication.
Ultimately, this is another high profile win for Starlink. Between the big names and quick rollouts it has certainly established itself as a key vendor to beat for inflight connectivity RFPs.
More news from the 2025 Dubai Air Show
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