In a fiery exchange, Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary has lashed out at Elon Musk, branding the tech billionaire’s X platform as a “cesspit” amid an ongoing dispute over the use of satellite internet on Ryanair flights.
The row was sparked after Musk floated the idea of buying the budget airline to “restore Ryanair as their rightful ruler,” a move that irked O’Leary. The airline chief revealed that Ryanair has been in talks with Musk’s Starlink satellite internet system for 12 months about introducing Wi-Fi on its aircraft. However, O’Leary argued that installing Starlink would result in significant fuel drag, costing the airline between 100 to 200 million euros.
Musk, the CEO of Tesla, X, and SpaceX, had previously criticised O’Leary’s calculations, calling him “an idiot.” In response, O’Leary launched a seat sale that he claimed was “only available for Elon Musk and any other ‘idiots’ on X.” The Ryanair boss also revealed that Musk’s insults have actually boosted the airline’s bookings by 2-3% in the past five days, which he described as a “very significant boost.”
Despite his distaste for social media, particularly the “anonymity” it provides, O’Leary said Ryanair will remain active on platforms like X, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, stating, “We have to be out there.” He also criticised the recent controversy surrounding the “Grok” app, which allegedly allowed users to undress children and women, calling it “offensive” and arguing that governments should make such practices illegal.
Addressing the prospect of a trade war between the EU and the US, O’Leary urged Europe to take a more “belligerent” stance against the Trump administration, should the former US president threaten the continent with tariffs. The Ryanair CEO believes that a trade war would not last long, given the strong economic ties between the two regions.
As the battle of words between O’Leary and Musk continues, the fate of in-flight Wi-Fi on Ryanair flights remains uncertain, with both parties seemingly unwilling to back down in this high-stakes clash of egos.
