Emirates to Equip 232 Widebody Aircraft with Starlink 

‍DUBAI — Emirates (EK) has confirmed plans to install SpaceX’s Starlink internet across its in-service Boeing 777 and Airbus A380 fleet, creating what will be the world’s largest Starlink-enabled international widebody operation. 

Apart from the widebody implementation, the airline plans to deploy Starlink Wi-Fi across its entire in-service fleet. The move marks one of the biggest commitments so far by a major long-haul carrier to adopt low-Earth-orbit satellite connectivity for passenger use.

Emirates Starlink Offering is Unique:

• Free for all customers, all cabins — no log-ins, no tiers. 

• Largest Starlink rollout in global aviation: all 232 aircraft equipped by mid-2027. 

• Only airline installing three Starlink antennae on the A380 for maximum speed and capacity. 

• Connect on both seatback screens + personal devices, simultaneously. 

• Fast installation pace: ~14 aircraft per month. 

• Live TV over Starlink is coming later this year. 

The Rollout Timeline

The installation work is scheduled to begin in November 2025 on the Boeing 777 fleet. Emirates expects to modify around 14 aircraft per month, depending on maintenance schedules and aircraft availability. The A380 program will start slightly later, in February 2026.

If the airline stays on its current plan, all 232 aircraft should be fully equipped by mid-2027. The upgrade is being done in parallel with the airline's cabin retrofit project, which is already underway across both types.

The airline has already installed Starlink on its first aircraft, the Boeing 777-300ER A6-EPF. The jet is on display at the Dubai Airshow, where visitors can try the high-speed connection while the plane is on the ground.

Hardware, Cabin Integration

Each Boeing 777 will receive two Starlink antennae, while the A380s will be fitted with three. Emirates says the number of antennae is designed to support higher bandwidth and maintain stable coverage across different flight regions and passenger loads.

Once active, the service will be accessible on personal devices and seatback entertainment screens. EK also confirmed that customers will log in via a single-step access page rather than the traditional account-based approach found on many aircraft today.

Live TV streaming through Starlink is planned to start by the end of December 2025, beginning with personal devices and later moving to the seatback system.

What Passengers Can Expect

According to Starlink’s aviation specifications, the network is designed to support activities such as video calls, streaming, and downloading large files at speeds similar to those users receive on the ground.

How consistently that performance holds across long-haul flights remains to be seen. LEO-based systems have shown strong results in shorter sectors with fewer users. Still, global-widebody operations introduce variables such as regional regulatory limits, differences in satellite density, and fluctuating passenger loads.

Airlines often face performance bottlenecks during peak hours, in busy air corridors, and during polar operations. It is not yet clear how EK and Starlink will manage those fluctuations across such a large fleet.

Regulatory, Operational Considerations

Satellite connectivity installations require coordination with aviation safety regulators, telecom authorities, and, in some cases, foreign governments. Certain countries still restrict in-flight satellite internet services within their airspace, and airlines must either disable or modify connectivity during those segments.

The certification process for antennas on both aircraft types will run in parallel with the physical installation. The A380, in particular, has unique size and structure considerations, which make antenna placement more complex than on twin-engine widebodies.

Part of a Larger Retrofit Strategy

The Starlink program is closely tied to Emirates’ multi-billion-dollar cabin refurbishment effort, which includes cabin upgrades, new products, and system modernisation. Doing the connectivity modification at the same time reduces aircraft downtime and allows the airline to keep its schedule relatively stable during the rollout.

With more long-haul carriers testing LEO connectivity solutions, the Emirates deployment will likely serve as a reference case for how large fleets transition from traditional satellite systems to newer, low-latency networks. 

Industry Impact

The introduction of Starlink on such a large fleet could pressure other major long-haul operators to accelerate their connectivity upgrades. For many airlines, internet performance is shifting from an add-on amenity to a core part of the passenger experience, especially on long flights where travelers expect to stay connected for work or entertainment. 

While some carriers have announced limited Starlink trials or selective fleet installations, Emirates’ plan represents one of the first attempts to scale the technology across an entire international widebody lineup. Other carriers, like Air France (AF) and SAS (SK), have also committed to installing Starlink across their fleets, bringing free, high-speed satellite Wi-Fi to all passengers.

Looking Ahead

The next milestone will be the first EK 777 flights equipped with Starlink after the November 2025 installation phase begins. Early performance reports determine how quickly other airlines choose to adopt similar systems.

For EK, the focus is on completing the installation as part of its broader fleet modernization. For the industry, the rollout adds momentum to a growing shift toward LEO-based in-flight connectivity.

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