Elon Musk’s Starlink is gaining traction in aviation, as more airlines roll out ultra-high-speed Wi-Fi in the sky.
Emirates, which was among the earliest airlines to offer in-flight Wi-Fi, has now completed the installation of next-generation Starlink Wi-Fi on its flagship Airbus A380.
With three antennas installed on each aircraft, the system can deliver more than 2 Gbps of total bandwidth across the cabin, compared to less than 1 Mbps previously shared across the entire plane.
The step change in capacity allows hundreds of passengers to stream, browse, game and work simultaneously at speeds the airline says rival those on the ground.
That significant increase in capacity means that hundreds of passengers can stream, game, browse and work remotely at speeds the airline says can rival home internet speeds.
According to Emirates, the upgrade represents a thousand-fold increase in onboard connectivity, with the system optimised for the A380’s dual-deck configuration and high passenger volumes.
Future enhancements will include live TV streaming over Starlink, initially on personal devices and later integrated into seatback screens.
The service is complimentary for all customers, across all cabins.
More A380s are scheduled for accelerated installation throughout 2026.