Emirates Announces Starlink Rollout: Free Ultra-Fast WiFi Across Entire Fleet by Mid-2027

Emirates has just made what might be the most significant in-flight connectivity announcement of the year. At the Dubai Airshow today, the airline confirmed it's partnering with SpaceX to install Starlink across its entire fleet of 232 aircraft — and crucially, it'll be completely free for all passengers in all cabins.

This is huge news for anyone who's ever struggled with Emirates' current WiFi offering (spoiler: that's most of us). The Dubai-based carrier is replacing its notoriously sluggish Sita OnAir system with what they're calling 'ground-quality internet at cruising altitude'. If you've flown Emirates recently and paid for WiFi only to have it buffer constantly, you'll understand why this upgrade is long overdue.

Emirates isn't hanging about with this installation. The first commercial flight with Starlink goes live on 23 November 2025 on a Boeing 777, with the complete rollout scheduled for completion by mid-2027. That's an ambitious timeline considering the scale of the operation.

Here's how it breaks down:

The fact that Emirates has already equipped its first aircraft (Boeing 777-300ER A6-EPF, which is on display at the Dubai Airshow) shows they're serious about moving quickly on this.

This isn't just marginally faster WiFi — Starlink promises genuine ground-quality speeds. Emirates says passengers will be able to:

The service works on both seatback screens and personal devices simultaneously, with one-click access that doesn't require payment or Skywards membership. From late December 2025, Live TV over Starlink will also be available, initially on personal devices and then on seatback screens.

According to Starlink's specifications, the service can deliver speeds up to 500 Mbps — fast enough to stream 4K content or join high-definition video conferences at cruising altitude. That's a quantum leap from what's currently available on Emirates flights.

This deal wasn't straightforward. Back in May 2025, reports emerged that Emirates was in negotiations with Starlink, but several obstacles stood in the way:

1. Starlink wasn't certified for the Airbus A380 — a critical issue since Emirates operates 116 of these aircraft, making up over 40% of their fleet

2. Starlink wasn't approved for use in the UAE, where Emirates is based

3. Starlink remains banned in key Emirates markets like China and Russia

4. Pricing negotiations were reportedly stuck on Emirates wanting to pay per occupied seat rather than Starlink's standard per-seat model

The fact that this announcement has now been made suggests these issues have been resolved — at least partially. Emirates' statement notes that the service will start 'shortly after take-off', which cleverly sidesteps the UAE approval issue by activating outside UAE airspace. How exactly the China and Russia routing will work remains to be seen, though presumably the service will simply be unavailable on those routes.

The A380 certification hurdle has clearly been overcome, with Emirates set to debut the world's first Starlink-equipped A380 in February 2026. That's quite the achievement from a technical standpoint.

If you're booking Qatar Airways Qsuites with Avios or redeeming for Emirates flights through partner programmes, this upgrade significantly enhances the value proposition.

For business travellers flying long-haul in business or first class, reliable high-speed WiFi isn't just a nice-to-have — it's essential for remaining productive. The ability to join video calls, access cloud files, and work seamlessly at 38,000 feet justifies premium cabin redemptions even more than before.

Even in economy, free ultra-fast WiFi is a substantial perk. Most airlines either charge for WiFi or provide such limited speeds that it's barely usable. Emirates is now offering what premium airlines like Qatar Airways (which installed Starlink in late 2024) are charging for — completely free.

For those of us who earn Avios through credit cards and redeem them strategically, this is another reason to consider Emirates partnerships through programs that allow booking their flights with points.

This Starlink installation sits within Emirates' massive $5 billion retrofit programme that's been accelerated due to delivery delays from Boeing and Airbus. So far, 76 aircraft have been fully refurbished with:

Emirates President Sir Tim Clark emphasised their philosophy: 'We strive to deliver consistency. While others peddle a confusing mix of products across a varied fleet, we want all our customers to be able to enjoy Emirates' best products and not only on certain routes or aircraft types.'

This consistency matters. You won't have to gamble on which aircraft you're assigned — by mid-2027, every Emirates widebody will have Starlink. Compare that to some carriers where connectivity varies wildly depending on which specific plane you happen to board.

Emirates isn't the first Middle Eastern carrier to adopt Starlink — Qatar Airways got there first in late 2024, installing it on Boeing 777s before moving to A350s. But Emirates' commitment to retrofit their entire fleet, including the notoriously challenging A380, shows serious ambition.

For UK travellers, British Airways has also announced plans to install Starlink, though specific timelines haven't been confirmed yet. Virgin Atlantic signed a deal in July 2025 to use Starlink, with installations beginning in 2026.

The competitive landscape is shifting rapidly. Airlines that don't invest in high-speed connectivity risk falling behind on passenger satisfaction scores, particularly in premium cabins where expectations are highest.

This is genuinely exciting news. I've flown Emirates several times, and the current WiFi situation is, to put it mildly, frustrating. Paying for connectivity that barely loads email feels like throwing money away.

For those of us who work remotely or need to stay connected whilst travelling, this transforms Emirates from 'good connectivity would be nice' to 'I can genuinely work productively for 7+ hours on a long-haul flight'. That's a game-changer, especially when you're using points for business class redemptions.

I am curious to see how this plays out on routes to China and Russia, where Starlink isn't approved. Will passengers simply accept that WiFi isn't available on those sectors, or will Emirates need to maintain their old system as a backup? Time will tell.

The aggressive installation schedule — 14 aircraft per month — shows Emirates is serious about completing this quickly. If they maintain that pace, we could see most of the fleet upgraded within 18 months. That's considerably faster than many airline retrofit programmes, which tend to drag on for years.

If you're booking Emirates flights from late November onwards, it's worth checking whether your specific flight will have Starlink installed. The airline will likely indicate this during booking or in the days leading up to departure.

For those considering award redemptions, Emirates remains bookable through various partner programmes, though availability can be limited. The addition of Starlink makes their product significantly more competitive with other premium carriers.

If you're based in the UK and regularly fly long-haul, this is another data point in favour of earning points in flexible currencies that allow booking across multiple airlines. Having the option to choose Emirates with proper connectivity — rather than being locked into a single carrier — gives you more flexibility.

Emirates' Starlink installation represents a significant upgrade to the passenger experience, particularly for those of us who value connectivity whilst flying. The combination of ultra-fast speeds, free access across all cabins, and a comprehensive rollout across the entire fleet sets a new standard for in-flight WiFi.

With the first commercial flight launching on 23 November and full fleet installation by mid-2027, this isn't just a vague future promise — it's happening now. That's worth celebrating, especially if you've ever tried to send an email on Emirates' current system.

Whether you're flying for business, leisure, or a combination of both, reliable high-speed connectivity makes long-haul travel significantly more pleasant. This is one of those rare upgrades that benefits everyone, regardless of which cabin you're sitting in.

Now we just need to see how quickly other carriers respond. The pressure is on.

Safe travels,

Jack