Emirates Adds 65 Boeing 777-9s And Free Starlink Wi-Fi

Published on Nov 17, 2025, 5:13 pm CST

6 min read

Key points

Emirates ordered 65 additional Boeing 777-9 aircraft worth about $ 38 billion at the 2025 Dubai Airshow
The deal lifts Emirates Boeing widebody orderbook to 315 jets including 270 777Xs 10 777 freighters and 35 787s
Emirates will begin rolling out free Starlink Wi-Fi on a Boeing 777 from November 23 2025 with A380 installations starting in early 2026
The airline plans to equip all 232 in service Boeing 777 and Airbus A380 aircraft with Starlink by mid 2027
Starlink service will be free for all customers in every cabin on equipped flights with simple one click access

Impact

Flight Experience: Expect much faster always on Wi Fi on more Emirates long haul flights from late November 2025 onward
Route And Capacity: Additional 777 9 deliveries from 2027 should support more high capacity routes and frequencies through Dubai
Aircraft Selection: Travelers who value connectivity may prefer Starlink equipped Boeing 777 and Airbus A380 services where available
Booking Strategy: Check whether your specific flight is scheduled with a Starlink equipped aircraft before locking in time sensitive work or streaming plans
Competitive Landscape: Emirates move pressures rival long haul carriers to match free high speed connectivity on comparable routes

Emirates has placed an order for 65 additional Boeing 777 9 aircraft worth about $ 38 billion, announced on November 17, 2025, at the Dubai Airshow. The deal lifts its Boeing widebody orderbook to 315 aircraft, including 270 777X jets, 10 777 freighters, and 35 787s, cementing Emirates as one of the largest long haul operators of Boeing widebodies. At the same event, the airline confirmed that it will deploy free Starlink satellite Wi Fi across its Boeing 777 and Airbus A380 fleet starting November 23, 2025, with completion targeted by mid 2027.

The combined announcements tie Emirates long term fleet growth to Boeing's delayed 777X program while committing to free, high speed satellite connectivity on most of its long haul flights, changes that will shape how travelers experience the airline over the next decade.

Emirates Fleet And 777X Program

Emirates signed for 65 more Boeing 777 9s at the 2025 Dubai Airshow, valuing the deal at about $ 38 billion at list prices, though large customers typically receive significant discounts. The new order lifts its total 777X commitment to 270 aircraft and its overall Boeing widebody orderbook to 315 jets when existing 777 freighter and 787 orders are included.

The 777 9 is Boeing's new generation twin aisle flagship, designed to replace older 777 300ER aircraft and some four engine types on long haul routes. Emirates has historically leaned on the 777 and Airbus A380 to funnel global traffic through Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and already operates the world's largest fleet of 777s and A380s.

Deliveries of the 777 9 to Emirates are expected to begin in 2027, after repeated program delays. For travelers, that means the new order will not change schedules immediately, but it increases the odds that high demand trunk routes to and from Dubai will see more capacity and refreshed cabins in the second half of the decade, rather than cuts as older aircraft retire.

The additional order also strengthens Boeing's 777X backlog at a time when the manufacturer is still working through certification and production challenges. Emirates has been vocal about those delays but is now doubling down on the type, which suggests continued confidence that the aircraft will deliver the range and seat count needed to replace large A380 operations on some routes once the double decker fleet eventually winds down.

Latest Developments

Alongside the aircraft order, Emirates confirmed plans to deploy Starlink Wi Fi across its entire in service fleet of 232 Boeing 777 and Airbus A380 aircraft. The first Starlink equipped Boeing 777 is scheduled to begin commercial service on November 23, 2025, immediately after appearing at the Dubai Airshow, with A380 installations beginning in early 2026.

The airline expects to complete the rollout by mid 2027, at an average pace of around a dozen or more aircraft per month, which would make its widebody fleet the largest Starlink enabled operation in the world. Emirates will fit two Starlink antennae on each 777 and an industry first three antenna installation on each A380 to maximize bandwidth and coverage across all cabins.

Crucially for passengers, Emirates says the service will be free for all customers in all cabins on Starlink equipped aircraft, with simple one click access that does not require payment details or enrollment in its Skywards loyalty program.

The airline and Starlink promote the system as offering speeds many times faster than legacy inflight connectivity, with enough bandwidth to support video calls, streaming, cloud based work, and gaming for typical loads on long haul flights. Early reporting suggests that live television delivered via Starlink will initially be available on personal devices, then extended to seatback screens from late December 2025 as Emirates integrates the new system with its inflight entertainment platform.

Background. Starlink is a satellite broadband network operated by SpaceX that relies on thousands of low Earth orbit satellites rather than a small number of geostationary satellites, which reduces latency and improves throughput for moving aircraft and ships compared with many older inflight Wi Fi systems.

Analysis

For travelers, the headline is simple, more capacity and better connectivity are coming, but not overnight. The Starlink rollout begins with a single Boeing 777 flight on November 23, 2025, then ramps up across the 777 fleet before reaching the A380s from early 2026. During the first year, only a subset of Emirates departures will be Starlink equipped, so passengers should expect a patchwork of experiences until coverage becomes dense enough that most long haul flights offer the new service.

Once fully deployed, free, high speed Wi Fi on nearly every 777 and A380 would set a new baseline for long haul connectivity, especially when combined with Emirates existing cabin product and inflight entertainment. That will matter most to business travelers and remote workers who need reliable video calls and large file transfers, but it also raises expectations for leisure travelers who want to stream video or share content in real time during long flights.

There are still practical caveats. Even with Starlink's higher bandwidth, capacity is shared among everyone onboard, so performance will vary with passenger load, usage patterns, and network conditions. Peak holiday flights could still see slower speeds, and coverage may be constrained on some polar or remote oceanic routes depending on satellite density and regulatory permissions. Travelers should treat Starlink as a meaningful upgrade over typical inflight Wi Fi, but not a guarantee that every connection will mirror a home fiber line.

On the fleet side, the 65 additional 777 9s will take years to arrive, but they give Emirates more flexibility to refresh interiors and rationalize which routes continue to see A380 service and which transition to large twin engine jets. For travelers, that could translate into newer cabins with more premium economy seats, updated business class products, and more consistent Wi Fi across the long haul network, though exact layouts will depend on how Emirates configures the aircraft closer to delivery.

If you are booked on Emirates after November 23, 2025, especially on Boeing 777 routes, it is worth checking your booking and seat map in the Emirates app or with your travel advisor to see whether the flight is likely to use a Starlink equipped aircraft, and planning your onboard work or streaming needs accordingly.

Final Thoughts

Emirates 65 aircraft order and its move to roll out free Starlink Wi Fi across all Boeing 777 and Airbus A380 aircraft by mid 2027 signal a long term bet on larger twin aisle jets and premium onboard connectivity. For travelers, the immediate changes arrive in stages, with the first Starlink flight in November 2025 and capacity growth later in the decade, but the direction is clear, high capacity long haul routes through Dubai with fast, free internet as a default expectation rather than a paid add on.