Dubai Airshow 2025: Emirates Launches Free Starlink Wi-Fi, Massively Expands 777X Fleet
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Emirates kicked off day one of the Dubai Airshow with a bang as it announced that it will introduce free and ultra-fast Starlink in-flight Wi-Fi across its entire in-service fleet, beginning with its Boeing 777 aircraft this month. The airline expects to complete the rollout by mid-2027. During the airshow, Emirates also announced an order for 65 more Boeing 777X jets.
Rollout Details and Performance Strategy
The first Starlink-equipped aircraft, a Boeing 777-300ER registered A6 EPF, is already on display at the Dubai Airshow. After the event, it will enter service as the first Emirates aircraft flying with the solution.
“With Starlink onboard your Emirates flight, you’ll be able to stream, game, and have seamless video calls, just as you can do on the ground.”
– Chad Gibbs, SpaceX
Emirates will then retrofit about 14 aircraft each month with Starlink in-flight connectivity (IFC), starting with its 777 fleet before moving onto its Airbus A380 fleet in February 2026. The airline plans to equip 232 jets with Starlink within two years, marking one of the fastest and most ambitious connectivity upgrades in commercial aviation.
To support Starlink’s performance, each Boeing 777 will receive two antennas, while each Airbus A380 will receive three. The three-antenna setup on the A380 is an industry-first and will help to maintain a reliable, high-speed service in every cabin.
The system supports usage via both seatback screens and personal devices. This dual platform approach helps Emirates deliver a consistent experience across every cabin. Furthermore, it enables Live TV over Starlink, which will appear first on personal devices by late December 2025, and later on seatback screens.
Once upgraded, IFC will be completely free for all passengers. Emirates said it will offer simple one-click access with no payment screens, account registration, or Skywards membership number required. This move reflects the growing trend toward treating connectivity as a basic expectation rather than a premium add-on.
SpaceX VP Starlink Business Operations Chad Gibbs said, “With Starlink onboard your Emirates flight, you’ll be able to stream, game, and have seamless video calls, just as you can do on the ground. We’re excited to transform Emirates’ travel experience and support the rapid installation of Starlink while maintaining focus on delivering overall quality of service.”
Part of a Broader Cabin Refresh
The Starlink rollout comes amid Emirates’ large scale cabin and digital refresh, which the carrier’s President Sir Tim Clark refers to as “the most ambitious cabin refurbishment program in aviation.“ The airline’s retrofit program covers nearly 220 aircraft, with 76 already back in service after full upgrades to Premium Economy, Business Class, First Class, and cabin materials. Adding high-speed IFC strengthens the digital layer of this modernization effort and supports the airline’s long-term technology plans.
The next phase of Emirates’ cabin retrofit will begin in August 2026 and will see 60 A380s and 51 Boeing 777s upgraded with new seats, redesigned lounges, and an updated in-flight entertainment system. Emirates Engineering is working with Airbus, Safran, Recaro, Panasonic, Starlink, and UUDS to deliver these changes. The plan includes new business-class seats modeled after the leather design on its Airbus A350s, upgraded premium economy seats from Recaro, and new Safran Z400 seats in economy class.
The entertainment updates center on the installation of Panasonic’s Astrova system, which adds 4K OLED screens, spatial audio, Bluetooth pairing, and 67W USB-C charging at every seat. By deploying Astrova and Starlink during the same retrofit cycle, Emirates will be able to roll out its next-generation cabin experience faster across long-haul routes. The airline will also add Panasonic’s Arc 3D 4K moving map across its seatback entertainment offering.
Emirates Adds 65 More 777X Aircraft
Emirates has also announced an order for 65 additional Boeing 777-9 aircraft powered by GE9X engines. The 777-9 is the larger variant in the 777X family. Worth US$38 billion, the deal brings Emirates’ total Boeing wide-body orderbook to 315, including 270 Boeing 777Xs, 10 Boeing 777 freighters, and 35 Boeing 787s. It also makes Emirates the largest GE9X customer, with 540 engines on order.
The agreement gives Emirates the option to convert part of the purchase into Boeing 777-8s or the proposed 777-10. These options support Boeing’s ongoing development of the 777-10, which Emirates views as a strategic aircraft to meet its future capacity needs. The airline expects to begin taking delivery of its first Boeing 777-9 in the second quarter of 2027, with deliveries scheduled through 2038.
The order strengthens the long standing partnership between Emirates and Boeing and supports the airline’s future growth. With deliveries lined up through 2038, Emirates has created one of the most forward-looking fleet plans in the aviation industry.
“Each of our aircraft on order has been carefully factored into Emirates’ expansion plan. Flying a young and modern fleet with innovative cabin products has always been a cornerstone of Emirates’ strategy,” said Emirates Chairman and CEO Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum.