Ryanair CEO Dismisses Elon Musk's Offer as Starlink Feud Escalates
Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary rejected Elon Musk's suggestion to buy the airline, blaming Starlink costs and sparking a public war of words that boosted bookings.
Overview
Michael O'Leary, Ryanair CEO, and Elon Musk, owner of Starlink and X, exchanged insults after Ryanair ruled out installing Starlink, citing antenna drag and high costs.
The exchange unfolded over recent days in Dublin and on Musk's platform X, with public comments, radio interviews and a social-media poll drawing wide attention.
O'Leary estimated Starlink would cost Ryanair about $200–250 million annually, citing installation of two antennas per plane, an approximate 2% drag increase and higher fuel bills.
O'Leary said non-EU citizens cannot hold majority stakes in European airlines but welcomed Musk's investment, calling it a better return than his performance on X.
Ryanair capitalized on the spat with a promotional 'Big Idiot' seat sale, saying the publicity boosted bookings while continuing talks with other providers like Amazon Kuiper.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the spat as a business-tinged spectacle: editorial language (e.g., 'war of words') and emphasis on promotional stunts foreground conflict, while inclusion of technical and regulatory detail provides balancing context. Source content — insulting quotes — is highlighted for color but not treated as analytical evidence.
Sources (5)
FAQ
O'Leary cited high annual costs of $200-250 million due to antenna installation, a 2% increase in fuel consumption from drag and weight, and low passenger willingness to pay, estimating less than 5% would use it on short flights.[1]
Starlink VP Michael Nicolls stated their terminals cause only a 0.3% fuel cost increase on Boeing 737-800s, far less than the 2% claimed, due to a more efficient profile; Musk replied suggesting it could be reduced under 0.1%.[3]
No, O'Leary welcomed Musk's investment as it would yield better returns than X, but noted EU rules prevent non-EU citizens like Musk from holding majority stakes in European airlines.
Ryanair launched a promotional 'Big Idiot' seat sale, stating the publicity boosted bookings while they continue talks with alternatives like Amazon Kuiper.
Yes, airlines like Lufthansa, British Airways, Qatar, and United are installing Starlink, often offering it free, contrasting Ryanair's no-frills short-haul model.
History
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