Ryanair CEO Rejects Musk’s Buyout Idea Amid Public Feud

The CEO of Ryanair, Michael O’Leary, has firmly rejected the idea of Elon Musk purchasing the low-cost airline. This dismissal comes amidst a heated exchange between the billionaire entrepreneur and the outspoken airline executive, following discussions about the installation of Starlink satellite systems on Ryanair aircraft.

The public spat began when O’Leary announced last week that Ryanair would not be installing Musk’s Starlink Wi-Fi due to concerns over increased fuel consumption caused by the system’s antennas. He stated that the extra fuel drag would be financially burdensome for the airline. In response to Musk’s claims that he was “misinformed,” O’Leary remarked during an interview with an Irish radio station that he would “pay no attention whatsoever” to Musk’s comments, describing him as “an idiot.”

Musk, known for his active presence on social media, retaliated on platform X, branding O’Leary an “utter idiot” and an “imbecile.” He even engaged his followers in a poll, asking whether he should buy Ryanair and appoint someone named Ryan to lead the airline.

While addressing reporters in Dublin, O’Leary pointed out that non-European citizens cannot own a majority stake in European airlines. Musk, who was born in South Africa and resides in the United States, would be unable to meet this requirement. Despite this, O’Leary suggested that if Musk wanted to invest in Ryanair, it could be a beneficial move, potentially offering better returns than those he currently receives from X. Musk acquired the platform in 2022 for $44 billion.

O’Leary is not unfamiliar with public exchanges. He thanked Musk for the additional publicity and indicated that Ryanair is leveraging this spat to promote a seat sale, featuring promotional material that includes a caricature of Musk. He took the insults in stride, saying, “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 criticized him, including his own teenage children.

The discussions between Ryanair and Starlink have been ongoing for approximately 12 months. O’Leary expressed an appreciation for the Starlink system, describing it as “a terrific system” that functions well. However, he highlighted the potential cost implications, estimating that it would require around $250 million annually to implement. This figure includes the installation of two antennas on each aircraft and an anticipated 2% increase in aerodynamic drag, which would elevate fuel expenses by another $200 million.

Ryanair would need to charge passengers for the Starlink service, but O’Leary projected that fewer than 5% of travelers would be willing to pay extra for this amenity on short-haul flights, which typically last around one hour and 15 minutes. The airline is also in negotiations with other telecommunications providers, including Amazon, which is launching its own satellite internet service called Kuiper. O’Leary emphasized that any agreements would aim to reduce costs for the airline.

In addition to the back-and-forth with Musk, O’Leary addressed concerns regarding Musk’s AI chatbot, Grok, available on X, which has been criticized for generating non-consensual deepfake images. O’Leary described social media platforms, particularly X, as “a cesspit,” condemning the recent controversies surrounding inappropriate content.

As tensions continue to rise between these two high-profile figures, the implications for both Ryanair and Musk’s other ventures remain to be seen, particularly regarding the potential for partnerships in the evolving landscape of satellite internet connectivity.