SpaceX’s Starlink To Equip Emirates Flights With In-Flight Wi-Fi Upgrade: Report

• The United Arab Emirates is not among the countries that allow the use of Starlink, according to the company’s website. 
• Bloomberg noted that a deal between Emirates and Starlink would require the government to modify this policy. 
• Qatar Airways was the first carrier to offer Starlink in the Gulf. 

SpaceX’s Starlink is reportedly set to be used by Dubai-based Emirates airline to enhance its onboard Wi-Fi option, even as the government has not yet approved the service.

According to a Bloomberg News report, citing people familiar with the matter, the partnership between Starlink and Emirates is set to be unveiled at the Dubai Air Show, which begins on Monday.

However, the United Arab Emirates is not one of the countries that allow the use of Starlink, according to the company's website. Bloomberg noted that a deal between Emirates and Starlink would require the government to modify this policy. 

The report noted that Starlink was not certified for Emirates’ double-decker A380. Retail sentiment on SpaceX, which is a privately held company, was in the ‘neutral’ territory, according to data from Stocktwits.

Starlink Customer Count

In late August, SpaceX’s Starlink said that it had crossed seven million customers. Starlink had reached the six million mark in June.

The company said that over the past year, Starlink has expanded to 42 new countries, territories, and other markets around the world while growing by 2.7 million-plus active customers globally.

During this time, the SpaceX team has also launched more than 100 Starlink missions, adding over 2,300 satellites to the constellation, and invested heavily in ground infrastructure, network backbone, and internal technologies and systems.

Other Gulf Airlines’ Offering Starlink

According to Bloomberg, starting last year, Qatar Airways was the first carrier to offer Starlink in the Gulf. The internet service is available on its Boeing 777 models, with the airline beginning to add it to its Airbus A350 jets.

In August, Bloomberg noted that SpaceX had pitched Starlink to Gulf Air and Flydubai, and had signed a deal with Saudi Arabia’s flagship airline, Saudia.

For updates and corrections, email newsroom[at]stocktwits[dot]com.

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