What’s Going On With Elon Musk and Ryanair? Here’s What You Need to Know
Elon Musk and Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary are publicly clashing over Musk’s attempt to bring SpaceX’s Starlink WiFi to commercial airlines. O’Leary rejected the proposal for Ryanair’s 600+ aircraft, citing prohibitive costs, added fuel consumption from antenna drag, and low customer demand on one-hour flights. Musk countered that Starlink’s drag impact is minimal and accused Ryanair of flawed analysis. The dispute has become personal on social media, with insults and mockery, and Musk jokingly suggested buying Ryanair and putting a “Ryan” in charge, spawning memes about celebrities named Ryan. However, EU laws prevent non-Europeans from controlling EU airlines. O’Leary estimated Starlink could add $200–250 million per year in costs, and he remains uninterested unless Starlink covers expenses or offers free service. The feud highlights the tension between advancing in-flight technology and the economics of ultra-low-cost carriers.
