Emirates said Thursday that passengers have made well over one million connections to its Starlink-powered inflight Wi-Fi service within seven months of its introduction, marking a milestone for the airline's onboard connectivity programme.

In a press release, the Dubai-based carrier said customers had used more than one petabyte of data since the service was launched, with many describing the internet connection as "better than at home."

The airline said more than 60 Starlink-equipped Emirates flights now operate each day, allowing passengers to stream content, make video calls, browse social media, play online games, and stay connected throughout their journeys.

Emirates said the service is currently available on 33 Boeing 777 aircraft and three Airbus A380s, with installations continuing across its fleet. The airline said additional aircraft equipped with Starlink are entering service every week.

The carrier said it has been investing in onboard connectivity for years, having been among the first commercial airlines to introduce internet access on the Airbus A380. While earlier systems provided less than one megabit per second of total aircraft bandwidth, Starlink-equipped A380 aircraft are now capable of delivering more than two gigabits per second of combined bandwidth, enabling passengers in all cabin classes to access complimentary high-speed internet for activities including live video calls and streaming.

Emirates said the Airbus A380 is fitted with three Starlink antennas designed to support the aircraft's double-deck configuration and large passenger capacity, providing improved coverage and performance throughout the cabin. The airline added that it plans to integrate live television streaming into its "ice" inflight entertainment system in the future.

To accelerate deployment, Emirates said Starlink installations have also begun at its engineering facilities in Dubai, supporting a faster rollout of the technology across the fleet.

The airline said the connectivity upgrade forms part of its broader investment in enhancing the passenger experience. It added that 128 aircraft have so far undergone cabin refurbishment under its fleet retrofit programme, including the introduction of Premium Economy, upgraded Business and First Class cabins, refreshed Economy cabins, and enhanced inflight entertainment systems that offer more than 6,500 channels of content.

Source: PR