Guide
Emirates Wi-Fi explained: Starlink vs the older service
Emirates currently runs two kinds of inflight Wi-Fi. Aircraft fitted with Starlink get fast satellite internet that is free for everyone. The rest of the fleet uses the older OnAir service, with paid plans and free tiers for some Skywards members.
Starlink Wi-Fi
- Price: free for all passengers in every cabin, with one-click access. No payment and no Skywards membership required.
- Speed: fast enough for streaming, gaming and video calls, according to Emirates and SpaceX.
- Aircraft: Boeing 777 and Airbus A380. Emirates announced the rollout in November 2025 at the Dubai Airshow, covering 232 aircraft at a pace of about 14 per month, with completion targeted for mid-2027.
- Hardware: two antennas on each 777, three on each A380.
The older OnAir Wi-Fi
On aircraft without Starlink, you connect to the OnAir network after take-off. Prices published by Emirates (in USD, varying by flight length and route):
| Plan | What you get | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited chat | Text-only messaging (WhatsApp, iMessage, WeChat) | $2.99 to $5.99 |
| Full Wi-Fi | Internet for the whole flight | $9.99 to $19.99 |
| Easy Connect | 30 minutes, no data limit (selected regions) | $9.99 |
Free OnAir access for Skywards members
- First and Business Class Skywards members get full Wi-Fi free.
- Platinum members get full Wi-Fi free in every cabin.
- Blue, Silver and Gold members in Economy and Premium Economy get free unlimited chat.
To log in, add your Skywards number to the booking before the flight, then sign in on board with your date of birth and seat number.
How far has the rollout got?
From community reports, 65 aircraft are confirmed so far: 26 A380s and 39 777-300ERs. See the coverage charts, or the full lists for the A380 and the 777.
What about the A350?
Emirates' Starlink announcement covers the 777 and A380. The A350-900s, which joined the fleet from late 2024, have not been confirmed with Starlink. One listing claims A6-EXB has it; we treat that as unconfirmed.
Prices and policies come from Emirates' onboard Wi-Fi page and Emirates' Starlink announcement, and can change. Check emirates.com before you fly.