Ryanair CEO Clashes with Elon Musk Over Starlink

Ryanair CEO’s War of Words with Elon Musk Over Starlink Wi‑Fi

As airlines around the world race to equip their fleets with next-generation satellite internet, Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary is taking a very different flight path—one that’s sparked a fiery exchange with billionaire Elon Musk.

The Spark: A “Wealthy Idiot” and a Billionaire’s Barbs

Ryanair’s outspoken CEO dismissed Musk’s Starlink network this week, calling it “an unnecessary cost” and branding Musk a “very wealthy idiot” during an interview on Irish radio. The comment came after Musk accused Ryanair of being “behind the times” by refusing to offer internet connectivity to passengers.

The spat began when O’Leary told reporters that the airline had no plans to install Starlink on its 640‑plus Boeing 737s, saying:

“Our passengers fly for an hour or two at most. They want low fares, not Netflix at 30,000 feet.”

His remarks quickly drew Musk’s attention online. The SpaceX founder fired back on X (formerly Twitter), writing, “They’ll lose customers to airlines that do offer internet.”

The Cost Debate: Fuel, Data, and the Bottom Line

According to O’Leary, installing Starlink would add between $200–250 million a year to Ryanair’s operating costs. He argued that while passengers enjoy free Wi‑Fi when it’s offered, “virtually nobody” would be willing to pay extra for it on short European hops.

But SpaceX executives disputed another one of his claims—that the added hardware would increase fuel burn by around 2%.

Michael Nicolls, Starlink’s Vice President of Engineering, countered that the new system is “far more aerodynamic”, creating only about 0.3% drag.
Musk responded that there’s “room to get it under 0.1%,” dismissing O’Leary’s figures as outdated.

In aviation, even a fraction of a percent in fuel efficiency matters. But the real question may be whether budget travelers value connectivity as much as affordability.

Rivals Take to the Skies with Starlink

While Ryanair digs in, competitors are moving fast:

Lufthansa plans to roll out Starlink across its 850‑plane fleet by late 2026.
Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) launched its first Starlink‑equipped flight this week.
British Airways, Qatar Airways, United Airlines, and Air France also have installation programs under way—many offering free, high‑speed Wi‑Fi to all passengers.

This growing adoption highlights Starlink’s push into commercial aviation, promising near‑fiber speeds even over oceans.

O’Leary’s Strategy: Stick to What Works

Despite online backlash, O’Leary’s argument fits Ryanair’s long‑standing strategy:

Keep costs low.
Minimize add‑ons unless passengers voluntarily pay for them.
Focus on price, punctuality, and safety—the airline’s three selling points.

Travel writer Simon Calder summed it up neatly: “People buy Ryanair flights because they’re cheap, not because they want to stream movies.”

The approach is working—for now. Ryanair carried over 206 million passengers in 2025 and posted €1.72 billion in after‑tax profits, a 20% increase year‑on‑year.

What’s Next for Ryanair and Starlink?

The feud is unlikely to dent O’Leary’s legacy as much as it cements his reputation for blunt talk. Still, as connectivity becomes a baseline expectation—and as competitors turn Wi‑Fi into a loyalty perk—Ryanair may eventually need to rethink its refusal.

For now, O’Leary seems content to let Musk launch satellites while he keeps his planes on schedule and his fares the lowest in Europe.