Key Notes
- Michael O’Leary estimates the Elon Musk feud generated $30–$40 million in publicity and boosted bookings for two to three weeks.
- The disagreement began over the economics of installing Starlink on Ryanair’s short-haul aircraft.
- O’Leary says he has no plans to reconcile, while Ryanair continues to question passengers’ willingness to pay for onboard Wi-Fi.
Ryanair chief Michael O’Leary says his feud with Elon Musk generated an estimated $30–$40 million in free publicity and lifted bookings for two to three weeks. The airline boss is treating the argument over Starlink as a marketing opportunity and says he has no plans to reconcile.
Speaking to Bloomberg on November 2, O’Leary again called Musk an “idiot” and said he would welcome further opportunities to provoke him. The estimate concerns the value of media attention, rather than cash paid to the airline or an equivalent increase in profit.
The Wi-Fi Dispute Behind the Insults
The row began in January after O’Leary rejected installing SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet on Ryanair aircraft. He cited the cost of antenna-related drag and questioned whether enough passengers would pay for connectivity on short flights.
At the time, he estimated that the system could cost the carrier up to $250 million a year. Musk disputed the calculations and called for O’Leary’s dismissal. Those cost figures were Ryanair’s estimates, and the disagreement did not establish a universal cost for other airlines.
Ryanair quickly turned the exchange into a fare promotion. As we covered in our earlier report on the booking boost, O’Leary had already credited the January attention with helping sales. His latest comments put a dollar estimate on the publicity and show that the argument remains useful to the airline months later.
Passenger Demand Remains the Sticking Point
On Monday’s earnings call, O’Leary also described the breakdown in negotiations with Starlink. Business Insider reported that he said the supplier had been willing to cover installation costs, but the parties disagreed over passengers’ willingness to pay for access.
That separates two parts of the discussion: the expense of fitting the aircraft and the ability to generate enough ongoing revenue from Wi-Fi. O’Leary’s position is that a short-haul, low-fare service needs an economic case for connectivity even if the equipment installation is funded.
Other Budget Airlines Are Moving Ahead
Ryanair’s stance contrasts with easyJet’s Starlink deal, which calls for installations to start in the first half of 2027 and finish by early 2028. easyJet has not announced passenger pricing or confirmed that access will be free.
For travelers, that means the airlines are making different investment decisions, while the eventual price and availability of Wi-Fi will determine how useful the service becomes. The public feud itself does not change the facilities available on a Ryanair flight.
Fuel Costs Frame the Wider Debate
The comments came as Ryanair reported first-half profit after tax of €2.15 billion, down 15%, despite carrying 6% more passengers. Average fares fell 4%, while the cost of its unhedged jet fuel doubled.
Those results give the connectivity debate a wider commercial context. Extra attention can help a brand sell seats, but the airline still has to balance fares, fuel and operating costs when deciding which onboard services to fund.
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