Elon Musk vs Ryanair: The Wi-Fi Feud Taking Off

A billionaire, a budget airline, and a storm on X

The skies are turbulent once again — but this time, not due to weather. Elon Musk, the outspoken billionaire behind SpaceX and Tesla, is locked in a public spat with Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary over the airline’s refusal to adopt Starlink, Musk’s satellite-powered in-flight Wi-Fi system.

What began as a business disagreement quickly spiralled into a social media spectacle, filled with insults, trolling, and one outrageous claim from Musk: that he might buy Ryanair outright.

The Spark That Lit the Fire

The feud began when O’Leary dismissed the idea of adding Starlink to Ryanair’s 600+ aircraft fleet. In classic O’Leary fashion, he bluntly told reporters:

“We don’t think our passengers are willing to pay for Wi-Fi on a one-hour flight.”

He also cited fuel efficiency concerns, claiming that Starlink antennas would increase drag and push operating costs up by as much as $200–250 million a year — roughly a 2% fuel penalty.

That didn’t sit well with Musk. Taking to his platform X (formerly Twitter), he fired back that O’Leary was “misinformed” and that Starlink’s technology increases fuel consumption by a mere 0.3% on a Boeing 737-800 — a difference backed by Starlink’s engineering team.

The War of Words Goes Public

It didn’t take long for O’Leary to return fire. Speaking on Irish radio, he branded Musk:

“A very wealthy idiot. He knows zero about flight and drag.”

He also dismissed X as a “cesspit” — sparking even more memes and headlines.

When Ryanair’s official X account poked fun at Musk after a brief platform outage, tweeting “Perhaps you need Wi-Fi, @elonmusk?”, Musk responded with his signature bravado:

“Should I buy Ryanair and put someone named Ryan in charge?”

Cue the internet’s laughter — and an avalanche of responses from both fans and critics.

Could Musk Really Buy Ryanair?

Unlikely. Despite his immense wealth, European Union ownership laws make a Ryanair takeover practically impossible.
Under EU regulations:

At least 51% of an EU airline must be owned by EU nationals.
Non-European investors (like Musk) can hold no more than 49%.

Even if Musk wanted to, a full buyout would run afoul of Brussels’ strict aviation rules.

Still, Ryanair’s roughly $35 billion market value makes it one of Europe’s most successful carriers — and not an easy target.

A Clash of Business Philosophies

At its core, this spat isn’t just about Wi-Fi — it’s about two radically different visions for the future of air travel.

Ryanair’s approach:

Cut costs to the extreme.
Prioritise cheap fares over amenities.
Keep things simple — no in-flight Wi-Fi, no frills.

Musk’s vision:

Integrate connectivity everywhere.
Use Starlink to revolutionise air travel and global communication.
Promote cutting-edge technology, even at a cost.

The difference mirrors their personalities: O’Leary, the blunt Irish cost-cutter, versus Musk, the risk-taking tech visionary.

The Bigger Picture: Who’s Winning the In-Flight Wi-Fi Battle?

While Ryanair digs in its heels, other airlines are soaring ahead with Starlink.

Already onboard with Starlink:

United Airlines
Qatar Airways
Emirates
Lufthansa (which plans to equip all 850 aircraft by 2029)

These carriers see fast, free Wi-Fi as the next big competitive edge. Musk argues that passengers will choose connectivity over cost, especially on longer flights.
O’Leary, however, is betting that budget-conscious travellers will continue to value price above all else.