Overview
- Emirates announced the SpaceX Starlink deal at the Dubai Airshow, positioning the carrier to operate the largest Starlink‑enabled international widebody fleet.
- The first Starlink‑equipped aircraft, Boeing 777‑300ER A6‑EPF, is on display at the show and will operate the first commercial flight with the service on November 23, 2025.
- Installations start on 777s now, A380 work begins in February 2026, and the airline targets a fleetwide completion by mid‑2027 at a pace of about 14 aircraft per month.
- The service will be complimentary for all passengers with simple one‑click access, supporting streaming, gaming, video calls, work and browsing on seatback screens and personal devices.
- Emirates will fit two antennas per 777 and three per A380, with Live TV over Starlink rolling out first to personal devices then to seatback screens from late December 2025; The National reports the retrofit investment at about $5 billion and notes UAE approvals are still pending so service will begin after take‑off on local departures.