Elon Musk has sparked speculation about acquiring Ryanair, Europe’s largest low-cost airline, following a fiery online clash with its CEO, Michael O’Leary.
The feud ignited when O’Leary rejected installing SpaceX’s Starlink satellite Wi-Fi on Ryanair’s fleet, citing added drag, fuel costs (estimated at up to $250 million annually), and low passenger demand on short-haul flights. Musk fired back, calling O’Leary an “utter idiot” who should be fired, arguing the fuel penalty was overstated by a factor of ten and that in-flight connectivity is now essential—airlines without it risk losing customers.
The exchange escalated when Ryanair’s official X account mocked Musk during an X outage: “Perhaps you need Wi-Fi @elonmusk?” Musk retorted: “Should I buy Ryan Air and put someone whose actual name is Ryan in charge?”
While largely tongue-in-cheek—Musk has a history of provocative posts—the comments went viral, with users urging a takeover and betting markets like Polymarket even offering odds. Ryanair’s market cap hovers around $35 billion; a premium buyout would represent a fraction of Musk’s vast wealth.
For now, it’s social media theatre, but it highlights growing tensions over in-flight internet in aviation’s competitive landscape.
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