Emirates has completed the first installation of Starlink internet service on an Airbus A380, becoming one of the first airlines to equip the world’s largest passenger jet with the satellite-based connectivity system supplied by SpaceX.
The first retrofitted aircraft returned to Dubai this week after installation and certification work were completed in Newquay, UK, and is expected to re-enter service shortly.
Emirates is the largest operator of the Airbus A380, the biggest passenger aircraft ever built, with 116 jets in its fleet, including 91 currently in active service. The airline has relied heavily on the double-deck aircraft for long-haul routes as it awaits delayed deliveries of the Boeing 777X.
The airline installed three Starlink antennas on each A380, compared with two antennas used on its Boeing 777-300ER fleet, to support the double-deck aircraft’s larger passenger capacity and cabin layout.
Emirates said the system can provide more than 2 Gbps of total bandwidth across the cabin, a sharp increase from its first-generation onboard internet service, which offered less than 1 Mbps.
The service will be free for passengers across all cabins, allowing them to stream content, browse the internet, work and use personal devices throughout the flight.
The rollout is set to accelerate this year at Emirates Engineering facilities in Dubai. The airline said 25 Boeing 777-300ERs are already equipped with Starlink, and more A380s are scheduled to undergo the retrofit in 2026.
More than 650,000 passengers have flown on Starlink-equipped Emirates aircraft so far, according to the airline.
