SpaceX’s Starlink may soon be flying aboard one of the world’s most recognizable airline fleets. According to a Bloomberg report, citing people familiar with the negotiations, Emirates is preparing to roll out Starlink-powered Wi-Fi across its aircraft, marking a major win for SpaceX as it continues its aggressive push into commercial aviation.
The deal is expected to be formally unveiled at the Dubai Air Show, which opens on Monday, and would bring significantly faster, lower-latency connectivity to passengers aboard Emirates’ widebody aircraft. The Dubai-based airline operates roughly 250 long-haul jets—and has more than 300 on order—making any agreement one of Starlink Aviation’s biggest deals.
But there is one major hurdle: the United Arab Emirates still does not permit the use of Starlink within its borders, according to the company’s website. That means any partnership with Emirates will require the UAE government to reverse its current policy. Bloomberg also reports that Starlink has not yet been certified for Emirates’ iconic double-decker A380, adding another regulatory step before full deployment.
If the deal materializes, Emirates would join a growing number of Gulf-region carriers adopting SpaceX’s satellite internet. Qatar Airways became the first airline in the region to equip Starlink last year, initially installing it on its Boeing 777 fleet before expanding the rollout to Airbus A350 aircraft. Bloomberg says Starlink has also been pitched to Gulf Air and Flydubai, and SpaceX already secured a deal with Saudi Arabia’s national carrier, Saudia.
The deal would also be one of Starlink’s most high-profile deals to date. As the world’s largest international airline and a global leader in premium service levels, Emirates embracing Starlink would significantly elevate the visibility—and credibility—of SpaceX’s in-flight connectivity platform.
