Ryanair has confirmed it will not install Elon Musk's Starlink satellite Wi-Fi on its aircraft, citing a 2% fuel penalty from the extra weight and drag of the antenna. CEO Michael O'Leary told Reuters on Wednesday that the airline does not believe passengers would pay for Wi-Fi on short flights averaging 90 minutes to two hours.
The budget carrier, which operates thousands of short and mid-haul flights across Europe, north Africa and the Middle East, currently offers no onboard Wi-Fi. O'Leary stated: 'We don't think our passengers are willing to pay for wifi for an average one-hour flight.'
SpaceX's Starlink vice president Michael Nicolls responded on X, claiming the fuel impact might be lower with their more efficient terminal. However, Ryanair's decision goes against industry trends, with Lufthansa announcing a deal to install Starlink on Tuesday, and carriers such as British Airways, Qatar Airways and United already using the technology.
Simon Calder, travel correspondent at The Independent, commented: 'A short hop on Ryanair is not comparable with a longer journey on which many passengers appreciate good wifi. Michael O'Leary's airline is allergic to cost and complexity, so I think he will stick with scratchcards and paninis to keep passengers amused.'
