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Since 2013, Emirates has ranked among the top five airlines in the world. To maintain that position, the airline is currently undergoing a massive fleet refurbishment, including the installation of high-speed Starlink Wi-Fi. Until that happens, eligible Skywards members have access to free internet or chatting, while all travelers can purchase Wi-Fi packages. Here are the details of what's currently available, and the timeline for the Starlink rollout.
Does Emirates Have Onboard Wi-Fi?
Emirates Airlines has arguably been at the forefront of enhancing the onboard experiences of travelers. In 1992, Emirates was one of the first airlines to install personal entertainment systems in all cabins. It was also one of the first airlines, along with Singapore Airlines, to provide Inmarsat Wi-Fi to passengers. Unfortunately, Inmarsat uses high-altitude geostationary satellites, which means slow speeds and high latency (the time it takes to deliver information).
Currently, travelers can purchase plans for unlimited chat or Wi-Fi. Emirates Skywards members can access these packages depending on their elite status. Package fees depend on the flight length.
Unlimited chat for the entire flight is available for $2.99-$5.99. This allows you to access chatting apps, including WhatsApp, iMessage, Facebook Messenger, WeChat, Line, and Viber. Skywards Blue, Silver, and Gold members traveling in Premium Economy and Economy class get this package complimentary.
Unlimited Wi-Fi for the entire flight is available for $9.99-$19.99. This package is complimentary to all Skywards members traveling in First or Business Class, as well as Skywards Platinum members traveling in any class.
You can also purchase “easy connect” in select regions, giving you 30 minutes of unlimited data for $9.99.
Data is limited, meaning media streaming and some sync services are restricted. Many passengers have reported very slow speeds, enough to check emails, but nothing fast enough for a video call. However, that will change with the Starlink rollout.
How to connect to Emirates Wi-Fi
Accessing Emirates' onboard Wi-Fi is relatively straightforward:
- Connect to the OnAir Wi-Fi network after take-off
- Log in if you're an Emirates Skywards member
- Choose a Wi-Fi plan
- Pay online
In order to get complimentary chatting or Wi-Fi, ensure you add your Emirates Skywards membership number to your booking on the Emirates App or through “Manage Your Booking” online before your flight. During the flight, use your date of birth as stated on your Emirates Skywards profile and your seat number to log in to the Wi-Fi network.
Free Starlink Wi-Fi Coming to Emirates Flights
As one of the best airlines in the world, Emirates is upgrading several aspects of its fleet. Part of the extensive fleet refurbishment program is the retrofit of high-speed Starlink Wi-Fi across its fleet.
Emirates currently has 270 aircraft in its fleet, with nearly two dozen more on order. The plans are for 232 aircraft to receive Starlink antennas by 2027. To reach this target, the airline will retrofit an average of 14 aircraft per month. The first plane retrofitted with Starlink Wi-Fi was a Boeing 777-300ER. It flew from Dubai to Dublin on November 23, 2025, making it the first Starlink-enabled flight for Emirates.
Emirates Starlink will be available to all passengers as one-click access at no charge, regardless of class, and not just for Skywards members either. When complete, Emirates will have the largest Starlink-enabled wide-body fleet in the skies.
Emirates Starlink installation timeline
- The retrofit of Boeing 777 aircraft started in November 2025 and is scheduled for completion by mid-2026. Each Boeing aircraft will have two Starlink antennas, providing free Wi-Fi fast enough for streaming, gaming, and any other digital demand.
- Starting in late December 2025, Emirates will also make Live TV over Starlink available, initially on personal devices and then on seatback screens.
- In February 2026, Emirates will start retrofitting its Airbus A380s. Airbus aircraft will receive three antennas each, an industry first, providing the fastest connection possible to passengers.
Our Take
Many airlines have already announced plans or have begun installing high-speed Starlink Wi-Fi across their fleets. Such airlines include Turkish Airlines, United, Qatar Airways, and more. Emirates is now joining the bandwagon and plans to be the largest fleet with Starlink-enabled aircraft in the next couple of years.
Seeing how Qatar Airways has exceeded its retrofit timeline, we can expect Emirates to do the same. Both airlines are consistently ranked among the top three worldwide. To maintain this position, they aim to provide the best possible experience for their passengers, which includes free high-speed Wi-Fi.
In the meantime, you can purchase a chat or Wi-Fi package for as little as $2.99 for your flight. Considering Emirates does not currently have a great track record for fast Wi-Fi, you're probably better off just getting the chat package if you need it and holding off on using the internet until you land. That will, of course, change when Starlink is available on flights.
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