Insults between Elon Musk and Ryanair boss over Starlink. Billionaire suggests he would buy airline: 'An idiot'
Elon Musk has hinted he may buy Ryanair and called for chief executive Michael O'Leary to be fired amid a growing feud between the two.
Elon Musk has hinted that he might buy the airline. PHOTO: Getty Images
The conflict escalated after O'Leary rejected the idea of using Musk's Starlink technology to provide Wi-Fi on board Ryanair planes, reports the BBC. In response, the low-cost airline called the Tesla founder an “idiot” in a post on the X Network on Tuesday, using the controversy to promote its January cuts.
“Maybe Musk needs a break?? Ryanair launches special Great Idiots ticket offer for Elon and any other idiots on 'X'” it is shown in a message from the Ryanair company.
In recent days, Musk has suggested several times, also on X, that he would be interested in buying Ryanair and that Michael O'Leary should be fired for refusing to implement Starlink on board aircraft. For his part, O'Leary described Musk as straight “idiotic”, and the billionaire responded with the same insult.
The head of Ryanair explained that the installation of Starlink equipment would require the installation of external antennas, which would increase fuel consumption and operational costs by about 200-250 million dollars annually, that is, about an extra dollar for each passenger. According to him, customers would not be willing to pay for internet on short flights, which is why the company does not intend to offer this service.
In parallel, Ryanair announced that Michael O'Leary will hold a press conference in Dublin to comment on Musk's statements.
The airline also recalled that, according to European law, EU carriers must be majority-owned by citizens of member states or a few associated countries, which would complicate a possible takeover by the American billionaire.
Starlink, Musk's satellite network, is already used by several airlines, such as Qatar Airways and United Airlines, and Lufthansa recently announced that it will offer free in-flight Wi-Fi using the technology.
