AVIATIONEmirates Fits Starlink Wi-Fi to Its First A380

The first Starlink A380 is back in Dubai

Emirates reported in mid-May 2026 that its first Airbus A380 fitted with Starlink has returned to Dubai after installation and certification in Newquay, in the UK. It follows the airline’s Boeing 777-300ER fleet, which was fitted first, as part of a retrofit of 232 aircraft. Emirates described the result on social media as “unbelievable connectivity throughout your journey”.

What the A380 upgrade offers

• Hardware: three Starlink antennas on the aircraft.
• Speed: more than 2 Gbps across the cabin, according to Emirates. It said its earlier systems offered less than 1 Mbps of total bandwidth for the whole aircraft.
• Cost: free for passengers in every cabin class on equipped aircraft.
• Technology: low Earth orbit satellites, which keep delays short and hold a signal over oceans where older systems drop out.

Emirates confirmed that more A380s will follow. For the wider plan and the number of aircraft already flying with it, see our Emirates Starlink rollout update.