Gaming 35,000 ft in the sky? Qatar Airways launches world’s first mid-air e-sports competition

Doha: Imagine e-gaming 35,000 ft in the sky. Qatar Airways has elevated the experience by hosting what it calls “the world’s first in-flight esports competition”, ‘Gaming in the Sky’. This event occurred on May 11 during a flight from Doha to London. Elon Musk-owned SpaceX’s satellite internet constellation Starlink delivers internet capabilities across the airline’s fleet, making the tournament possible.

According to a Qatar Airways statement, the tournament saw a lineup of gaming and entertainment personalities battling it out at 35,000 feet in the sky. Gamers such as Tfue, Castro1021, Lisa Zimouche, Alodia Gosiengfiao, Dantic, SV2, AJ3, Aameghessib, Danny Aarons, Ffearfful, MattHDGamer, and Slater participated in the mid-air showdown, with Oussifooty taking on hosting duties.

American online streamer Turner Tenney, also known as Tfue, shared videos of him playing Fortnite on his X account.

Musk, who now goes by the name gorklon rust on the platform, shared the post on his account and said ‘Cool’.

Last month, Musk himself shared videos of his ‘gaming sessions’ onboard his private jet, calling it a way to relax after a “stressful week”.

Two teams, Team Burgundy Oryx and Team Grey Aviators, engaged in a friendly esports competition mid-flight. Starlink’s ultra-fast, low-latency internet ensured seamless real-time gameplay and allowed for live updates to be shared on Qatar Airways’ social media channels, keeping fans worldwide engaged with the airborne action.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer Badr Mohammed Al-Meer said the airline remains committed to innovation. He said, “At Qatar Airways, we are constantly pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the sky to deliver an in-flight experience that captures the imagination and makes you feel right at home. This competition represents a bold step into the future of passenger engagement and comfort when flying with Qatar Airways.”

The ‘Gaming in the Sky’ competition comes as Qatar Airways nears the completion of its Boeing 777 fleet upgrade with Starlink connectivity and commences the introduction of the world’s first Airbus A350 aircraft equipped with the same technology. This strategic move will enable more passengers to enjoy complimentary, ultra-fast Wi-Fi for various online activities, including streaming and gaming.

Qatar Airways is the largest global airline and the first and only airline in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to offer Starlink’s high-speed internet onboard. The award-winning carrier also operates the largest fleet of wide-body aircraft equipped with Starlink and is the first globally to equip its Airbus A350 fleet with Starlink connectivity.