At a Glance
- Elon Musk called Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary an “utter idiot” after the airline boss rejected adding Starlink internet to flights
- O’Leary says the antenna adds 2% fuel drag and $200-250 million yearly costs that passengers won’t pay for on short flights
- Starlink’s VP claims the penalty is only 0.3% for its slimmer terminal
- Why it matters: The clash highlights how even tiny cost increases can upend ultra-low-cost carriers’ business models
Elon Musk and Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary are trading public insults after the Irish executive dismissed adding Starlink satellite internet to Europe’s largest budget airline. The spat started when O’Leary told Reuters that Ryanair has no plans to follow rival carriers signing up for Musk’s service, citing extra fuel burn and customer price sensitivity.
The Rejection
O’Leary outlined two reasons for skipping Starlink:
- Fuel penalty: “You need to put antenna on fuselage, it comes with a 2% fuel penalty because of the weight and drag,” he told Reuters
- Short flights: Most Ryanair hops average one hour, so he doubts travelers will pay for Wi-Fi
The carrier keeps fares as low as 15 euros (about $17) and charges for extras like seat selection. O’Leary argues passengers will revolt if ticket prices rise to cover connectivity costs.
Musk’s Counter-Attack
Musk fired back on X, labeling O’Leary “misinformed” and asserting the incremental drag is “basically zero during the ascent phase.” Michael Nicolls, Starlink’s VP of engineering, posted that the company’s low-profile terminal adds only 0.3% fuel burn to a Boeing 737-800 burning 800 gallons an hour.
The two sides appear to talk past each other:
| Claim | Source |
|---|---|
| 2% drag | O’Leary, citing Boeing data |
| 0.3% drag | Starlink VP, comparing to bulkier rivals |
O’Leary Doubles Down
On The Hard Shoulder podcast, O’Leary escalated the feud:
- “What Elon Musk knows about flights and drag would be zero”
- Boeing already confirmed the aerial adds 2% drag
- Annual cost: $200-250 million passed straight to consumers
He concluded, “I would pay no attention whatsoever to Elon Musk. He’s an idiot. Very wealthy, but he’s still an idiot.”
Musk’s Final Salvo
Musk responded Friday by calling O’Leary an “utter idiot” and demanded Ryanair’s board fire him. When a user suggested Musk simply buy the airline to oust the CEO, Musk replied, “Good idea.” While such threats often prove empty, Musk has followed through before-most notably with Twitter.
Key Takeaways
- Ultra-low-cost carriers live or die on microscopic margins; even a 1% cost bump can wreck the model
- Starlink’s lighter antenna may beat legacy systems, but any antenna still adds weight and drag
- Public spats between billionaires highlight tension between tech firms pushing connectivity and airlines guarding thin profits
