The ongoing war of words between Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary and Elon Musk intensified on Wednesday, as O’Leary dismissed Musk’s idea of buying the budget airline and shrugged off the billionaire’s insults. The spat, which began over the installation of Starlink satellite Wi-Fi systems on Ryanair aircraft, has quickly escalated into a public showdown between two of the world’s most outspoken figures.
Starlink Sparks the Clash
O’Leary revealed last week that Ryanair had ruled out installing Starlink on its planes, citing the extra fuel drag from antennas as too costly. He estimated the system would add $250 million annually, including $200 million in additional fuel costs from a 2% increase in aerodynamic drag.
While acknowledging that Starlink is “a terrific system,” O’Leary said fewer than 5% of passengers would pay extra for Wi-Fi on Ryanair’s short-haul flights, which average just over an hour.
Musk Fires Back
Musk responded by accusing O’Leary of being “misinformed” and later escalated the spat on his social media platform X, calling the Ryanair boss an “utter idiot” and “imbecile.” He even joked about buying the airline, posting:
“Should I buy Ryan Air and put someone whose actual name is Ryan in charge?”
A poll accompanying the post showed 76.5% of Musk’s followers supported the idea.
O’Leary’s Response
Speaking to reporters in Dublin, O’Leary dismissed Musk’s remarks, noting that non-European citizens cannot own a majority stake in European airlines.
“But if he wants to invest in Ryanair, we would think it’s a very good investment. Certainly a significantly better investment than the financial returns he’s earning on X,” O’Leary quipped.
O’Leary, known for his sharp wit and trolling critics, thanked Musk for the “additional publicity.” Ryanair even launched a promotional seat sale featuring a caricature of Musk.
“All I would say to Elon Musk is he would have to join the back of a very, very, very, very long queue of people who have already insulted me, including my four teenage children,” he added.
Exploring Alternatives
Despite ruling out Starlink, Ryanair remains in talks with other providers, including Amazon’s Kuiper project, to explore onboard internet options. O’Leary stressed that any deal must lower costs rather than increase them.
Musk’s AI Controversy
O’Leary also weighed in on a separate controversy involving Musk’s AI chatbot Grok, which has faced criticism for generating nonconsensual deepfake images. The remarks added another layer to the ongoing feud, highlighting broader concerns about Musk’s ventures beyond aviation.
Conclusion
The spat between O’Leary and Musk underscores the challenges of balancing innovation with cost efficiency in the airline industry. While Musk continues to push Starlink as a global solution, Ryanair’s refusal highlights the practical and financial hurdles of integrating satellite Wi-Fi into short-haul, low-cost operations. For now, O’Leary appears content to turn Musk’s insults into marketing opportunities, while keeping Ryanair’s focus firmly on cost-conscious passengers.
