O’Leary argued that Ryanair passengers are unwilling to pay for onboard internet access. He stated that while passengers will use Wi-Fi if it is free, they will not pay even €1 to access it.

From Ryanair’s perspective, offering free Wi-Fi would permanently raise operating costs without generating additional revenue. This directly conflicts with the airline’s ultra-low-cost model.

Elon Musk responded by calling O’Leary misinformed about Starlink’s technology. Starlink Vice President of Engineering Michael Niccolls supported Musk’s position, stating that Starlink antennas are significantly slimmer than legacy systems.

According to Starlink, the additional fuel burn would be closer to 0.3 percent on a Boeing 737-800, which is the backbone of Ryanair’s fleet. Musk further stated that incremental drag during short flights is difficult to measure accurately, particularly during ascent when angles of attack are already high.

O’Leary dismissed Musk’s criticism, stating, “I would pay no attention whatsoever to Elon Musk; he’s an idiot. Very wealthy, but still an idiot.” He added that Musk knows nothing about aircraft drag and fuel economics.

O’Leary also criticized X, referring to it as a cesspit and referencing Musk’s political positions, including his support for Donald Trump. These remarks broadened the dispute beyond aviation technology.

When a clip of O’Leary’s interview circulated on X, Musk replied, “Ryanair CEO is an utter idiot. Fire him.” Musk later added a sarcastic remark asking whether he should buy Ryanair and appoint someone actually named Ryan to run it.

Ryanair’s Response

Despite O’Leary’s criticism of X, Ryanair remains highly active on the platform. The airline is known for trolling passengers and competitors with sharp, meme-driven responses.

According to PYOK, during a temporary outage on X, Ryanair posted a message suggesting Musk might need in-flight Wi-Fi, directly referencing the Starlink dispute and amplifying the public nature of the feud.

Michael O’Leary and Ryanair’s Business Legacy

Michael O’Leary became Ryanair’s chief executive in 1994, when the airline was a struggling regional operator. Inspired by Southwest Airlines (WN), O’Leary pushed the low-cost concept further, enforcing strict cost controls and aggressive pricing.

Ryanair gained a reputation for rude service and heavy ancillary fees, leading many passengers to avoid repeat travel. In later years, the airline softened its customer approach slightly, but the core strategy of offering the lowest possible base fare remains unchanged.

In-flight Wi-Fi has never been part of that strategy, as any added cost risks undermining Ryanair’s pricing advantage.

Ownership Limits and Grok Reality Check

Musk’s comments about buying Ryanair were widely interpreted as rhetorical. Musk’s own Grok AI chatbot stated that such an acquisition would not be possible under European Union regulations.

EU law requires airlines based in the bloc to be at least 50 percent owned and controlled by EU nationals or entities. This rule prevents Musk from acquiring a controlling stake in Ryanair.

Michael O’Leary, who already holds a 4% stake in the airline and is a billionaire, would still benefit financially from any partial acquisition. A takeover at a premium valuation would significantly increase his personal wealth, even without a change in leadership.

Dispute Over Adoption

The Musk and O’Leary clash highlights the divide between emerging aviation technology and low-cost airline economics.

While Starlink focuses on performance and future connectivity standards, Ryanair prioritizes absolute cost minimization.

The dispute underscores that technology adoption in commercial aviation is driven less by capability and more by alignment with an airline’s core business model.

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