Press Release: Qatar Airways brings Sport 24 to Starlink-fitted aircraft

Qatar Airways has partnered with IMG, a leading global sports marketing agency, to launch a new sports streaming service onboard its Starlink connected aircraft. For the first time, Qatar Airways’ passengers will be able to watch high-definition coverage of the world’s major sports events on IMG’s live inflight sports channels, Sport 24 and Sport 24 Extra, via a dedicated web player on their personal electronic devices.

The launch marks the first-time passengers on any airline have been able to enjoy Sport 24 beyond the inflight entertainment system, enabled by Starlink’s ultra-fast, low-latency internet. Qatar Airways is the largest global airline to introduce Space X’s Starlink technology on board.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, said: “Our partnership with IMG marks another leap forward in redefining the inflight experience.

“As the first global airline to introduce Starlink’s high-speed connectivity combined with live sports streaming, we are proud to bring passengers closer to the sporting moments that matter most – wherever they are in the world. From football fans to tennis enthusiasts, this new offering ensures our guests never miss a second of the action at 35,000 feet.”

Adam Kelly, President, IMG said: “Live sport is one of the last remaining appointment-to-view events that people prefer to watch in real time. As consumer viewing habits continue to evolve, passengers want more ways to enjoy live sport onboard so they never have to miss a moment of the action. Qatar Airways is now making that a reality for fans traveling anywhere in the world with Sport 24. We’re continuing to drive product developments to make Sport 24 available on any international aircraft with connectivity.”

The Sport 24 web player is available for passengers to access onboard Qatar Airways’ Starlink connected aircraft via mobile, tablet and laptop devices by scanning a QR code.

The launch coincides with a packed schedule of live sport on Sport 24’s channels this Summer, including the FIFA Club World Cup 2025TM, UEFA Women’s EURO 2025, Wimbledon Championships, The Open, cricket, Formula 1, and more. Its inflight portfolio includes the world’s biggest sport leagues and competitions, including the FIFA World Cup 26, Premier League, UEFA Champions League, NFL, NBA, grand slam tennis, golf majors, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Nations League, and the AFC Asian Cup.

Owned, operated and licensed by IMG, Sport 24 is the first and only live sports channel available on airlines and cruise ships around the world. Last year, the channels were viewed by more than 10 million passengers inflight.

Sport 24 and Sport 24 Extra are produced from IMG’s production headquarters at Stockley Park, near London’s Heathrow Airport.

About Qatar Airways

A multiple award-winning airline, Qatar Airways won the ‘World’s Best Airline’ for the unprecedented eighth time at the 2024 World Airline Awards, managed by the international air transport rating organisation, Skytrax. Qatar Airways has been the World’s Best Airline in 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2024. The airline continues to be synonymous with excellence, also taking home, ‘World’s Best Business Class’, ‘World’s Best Business Class Airline Lounge’, and ‘Best Airline in the Middle East’. As leaders in industry innovation and digital adoption, Qatar Airways was also recently voted the ‘World’s Best Airline Website’ by World Travel Tech Awards in 2024.

Qatar Airways currently flies to over 170 destinations worldwide, connecting through its Doha hub, Hamad International Airport, the ‘Best Airport in the Middle East’ for 11 consecutive years, as well as ‘World’s Best Airport Shopping’ for the third year in a row, as voted by Skytrax. Hamad International Airport has previously been named the ‘World’s Best Airport’ by Skytrax in 2021, 2022, and 2024.

Qatar Airways was the first Airline in the Middle East to be certified to the highest level of IATA’s Environmental Assessment (IEnvA) programme, based on recognised environmental management system principles (such as ISO 14001). As an inaugural signatory to the Buckingham Palace Declaration in March 2016, Qatar Airways became the first airline globally to be certified to the industry standard for the prevention of illegal wildlife trafficking in aviation.

About IMG

IMG is a leading global sports marketing agency, specializing in media rights management and sales, multi-channel content production and distribution, brand partnerships, strategic consulting, digital services, and events management. It powers growth of revenues, fanbases and IP for more than 200 federations, associations, events, and teams, including the National Football League, English Premier

League, International Olympic Committee, National Hockey League, Major League Soccer, ATP and WTA Tours, the AELTC (Wimbledon), Euroleague Basketball, CONMEBOL, DP World Tour, and The R&A, as well as UFC, WWE, and PBR. IMG is a subsidiary of TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: TKO), a premium sports and entertainment company.

Featured image credited to IMG

The post Press Release: Qatar Airways brings Sport 24 to Starlink-fitted aircraft appeared first on Runway Girl.