A public dispute has erupted between Elon Musk and Michael O’Leary after the Ryanair chief ruled out installing Starlink satellite internet on the airline’s aircraft, citing high costs and fuel penalties.
O’Leary said this week that Ryanair has no plans to equip its fleet of more than 600 jets with Starlink, arguing that the external antenna would create drag, increasing fuel consumption. He estimated the service could cost the airline up to $250 million a year, making it uneconomical for a low-cost carrier.
Musk, whose company SpaceX operates Starlink, rejected that assessment in posts on his social media platform X, saying O’Leary was “misinformed” and claiming Ryanair did not properly understand how to measure the fuel impact of the equipment.
The exchange escalated after O’Leary told Irish radio station Newstalk that Musk knew “zero” about aviation and aerodynamic drag, calling the billionaire an “idiot” and describing X as a “cesspit.” Musk responded on Friday by calling O’Leary an “utter idiot” and suggesting he should be fired. When a user proposed that Musk buy Ryanair and dismiss O’Leary himself, Musk replied: “Good idea.”
The spat highlights differing economics in the airline industry as in-flight connectivity becomes a competitive feature. Airlines are an increasingly important market for Starlink, which uses thousands of low-Earth orbit satellites to deliver faster and more reliable onboard internet. More than two dozen carriers, including United Airlines, Qatar Airways and Lufthansa, are rolling out the service across their fleets.
While financial terms have not been disclosed, analysts generally view Starlink as a premium offering better suited to long-haul and full-service airlines, rather than ultra-low-cost carriers like Ryanair, where margins are thin and cost discipline is paramount.
