Emirates Brings Free Starlink Wi-Fi to All Its Aircraft — A Game Changer in the Skies

Emirates just announced a bold move: every in-service aircraft in its fleet — that’s 232 Boeing 777s and A380s — will be upgraded with Starlink satellite Wi-Fi by mid-2027. The first of these Starlink-equipped planes, a Boeing 777-300ER (A6-EPF), was already on display at the 2025 Dubai Airshow, letting attendees test the service right on the ground. 

Emirates says the connectivity will be “ground-quality” even at cruising altitude: passengers will be able to stream, game, work, make calls, and browse social media on both personal devices and the plane’s seatback screens. Even better — the Wi-Fi is free for all passengers on Starlink-equipped flights, across all cabin classes, with a simple one-click login (no Skywards account or payment needed). 

The rollout plan is ambitious: Emirates will retrofit around 14 aircraft per month.For the Boeing 777s, each plane gets two Starlink antennae, and the A380s — a first in the industry — will get three antennae to boost coverage and bandwidth for all cabins.  Starting February 2026, the A380 installations will begin in earnest. 

Another cool part: Live TV via Starlink will come online, first for personal devices and later on seatback screens (starting around December 2025).

For Emirates, this isn’t just about better Wi-Fi — it’s part of a broader plan to modernize its fleet. Sir Tim Clark, President of Emirates, described the Starlink rollout as “another defining moment” in the airline’s commitment to elevating the passenger experience. On SpaceX’s side, Chad Gibbs (VP of Starlink Business Operations) highlighted how this partnership will “transform the travel experience” by delivering seamless, high-speed connectivity without compromising service quality.

Why It Matters

• Passenger experience upgrade: With free, fast Wi-Fi, long-haul flights become more productive and entertaining than ever.

• Tech leadership: Emirates becomes one of the first major international carriers to deploy Starlink across a wide-body fleet at this scale.

• Industry shift: This move reflects a broader trend — satellite internet is no longer niche or just for remote areas. It’s becoming a mainstream part of inflight service.

• Operational scale: Retrofitting more than 200 aircraft shows how seriously airlines are betting on satellite internet to improve their value proposition.