Ryanair Chief Embraces Public Spat with Musk as Sales Climb
Michael O'Leary, the outspoken chief executive of Ryanair, has declared that he welcomes insults from tech billionaire Elon Musk if they help drive bookings for the budget airline. The comments come after a very public disagreement between the two business figures regarding the feasibility of using Musk's Starlink satellite internet system to provide wifi on Ryanair flights.
A Spirited Exchange Sparks Unexpected Sales Boost
The verbal tussle began when O'Leary publicly stated that implementing Starlink on Ryanair's aircraft was not currently practical. Musk responded on his social media platform X, calling the airline boss an "idiot" and a "chimp," and even musing about potentially purchasing the airline himself. At a press conference held in Dublin, O'Leary addressed the remarks with characteristic bluntness.
"All I would say to Elon Musk is he would have to join the back of a very, very, very, very long queue of people who already think I'm a retarded twat, including my four teenage children," O'Leary stated. "If he wants to call me an idiot, he wouldn't be the first, and he certainly won't be the last. But if it helps to boost Ryanair sales, you could insult me all day, every day."
The Ryanair leader revealed that this "PR spat" had directly contributed to a noticeable 2-3% increase in sales over the preceding five days. He expressed a willingness to continue the controversy, noting that any publicity is beneficial as long as it does not compromise the airline's unwavering safety standards.
Technical and Commercial Hurdles for In-Flight Connectivity
O'Leary provided detailed context for the initial disagreement, explaining that Ryanair had been in discussions with Starlink for approximately twelve months. While he praised Starlink as a "terrific" technological system, he outlined significant practical barriers.
The primary issue, according to O'Leary, is the fuel drag caused by installing the necessary aerials on aircraft. He estimated this modification would cost the airline between 100 and 200 million euros. Furthermore, he challenged Starlink's commercial assumptions, suggesting that while the company insists 90% of passengers would pay for wifi, Ryanair's own estimates put the figure at less than 10%.
"If Starlink wants to fit our aircraft and pay for the fuel drag, we'd happily put them on board," O'Leary said, setting out a clear condition. "But the only way we see Starlink working on board short-term flights is if you give it away for free. And like most things in life, if you give it away for free, passengers will use it."
An Unconventional Marketing Win
Far from being offended, O'Leary framed the exchange as a successful, if unconventional, marketing campaign. He extended a tongue-in-cheek thank you to Musk for the "wonderful boost in publicity," even arranging for a Ryanair ticket to be delivered to X's Dublin offices as a gesture of gratitude.
"I'm sure it does wonders for Elon Musk and his X, or whatever subscribers he has on X as well, to be fighting with somebody," O'Leary remarked. "But as long as it doesn't involve safety, and we've never compromised on safety, any of these spats are great for bookings and great for awareness all over Europe."
He also addressed Musk's quip about buying the airline, clarifying that EU ownership rules would prevent such a move but welcoming potential investment, which he described as a "significantly better investment" than X. The episode underscores O'Leary's long-held belief that controversy, when managed correctly, can be a powerful driver for the low-cost carrier's brand and bottom line.
