Emirates has brought back its first Airbus A380 equipped with Starlink Wi-Fi, marking an upgrade in onboard internet for the airline’s flagship aircraft.

The aircraft recently returned to Dubai after installation and certification work in Newquay, UK. It’s the first A380 in the fleet to carry the new system, with more installations planned through 2026.

The upgrade replaces earlier onboard internet systems, which offered limited speeds, with Starlink’s satellite-based service. Each aircraft is fitted with three antennas, allowing passengers to browse, stream, and work during the flight. The service will be free for all passengers, regardless of cabin class.

The A380 setup is designed to handle the aircraft’s size and layout. With two decks and a large number of passengers, the system can deliver up to 2 Gbps of total bandwidth across the cabin. Compared to the airline’s Boeing 777 installations, the A380 uses additional access points and a third antenna to maintain coverage.

Emirates has already introduced Starlink on 25 Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. More than 650,000 passengers have flown on those aircraft so far, according to the airline.

Installations will continue at Emirates Engineering facilities in Dubai as part of a wider effort to upgrade connectivity across the fleet. To date, 93 Emirates aircraft have been fully refurbished.    
   
The move is part of a broader push by Emirates to improve the onboard experience, alongside its ongoing aircraft refurbishment program, which includes updated cabins, new Premium Economy seats, and upgraded inflight systems.