- Ryanair refused to install SpaceX’s Starlink across its 600+ aircraft, citing installation costs and increased fuel burn.
- Elon Musk disputed the fuel-penalty claim on X, saying the drag impact is negligible.
- The dispute turned public and personal, with exchanges on social media and a Ryanair marketing push tied to the feud.
- Ryanair estimates the rollout would add about $200 million to $250 million per year and says under 10% of its short-haul passengers would pay for WiFi.
- Legal limits on non-EU ownership and market skepticism make a Musk takeover unlikely; Ryanair’s market cap is about $36.6 billion, and prediction markets place low odds on a near-term leadership change (Myriad).
Ryanair said it will not fit SpaceX’s Starlink across its fleet of more than 600 planes, citing installation costs and higher fuel burn, the airline’s CEO told Reuters. The decision follows industry efforts by Elon Musk to sell satellite internet to commercial carriers.
Musk argued the fuel impact is overstated and challenged Ryanair’s technical analysis, writing on X that "I doubt they can even measure the difference in fuel use accurately, especially for a one-hour flight, where the incremental drag is basically zero during the ascent phase due to high angle of attack." He also noted that Starlink has won business from premium carriers such as Qatar Airways and United Airlines.
Michael O’Leary responded at a Dublin press event, saying "Musk knows even less about airline ownership rules than he does about aircraft aerodynamics," and linking the decision to Ryanair’s low-cost model; he estimated installation and extra fuel would add about $200 million to $250 million a year across the fleet. O’Leary also said fewer than 10% of Ryanair passengers would pay for WiFi on typical one-hour routes.
The exchange became personal on social media and prompted a Ryanair promotional stunt tied to the dispute, which O’Leary said boosted bookings. Musk later polled followers on X about buying the airline in a joking thread (poll), while prediction markets show low odds of a leadership change (Myriad).
O’Leary noted regulatory limits on non-EU control of European carriers and highlighted Ryanair’s profitability and market value of about $36.6 billion. He left the door open for Starlink if the provider covers installation and fuel costs, saying "If Starlink wants to fit the flights, fit our aircraft, and pay for the fuel drag, we’d happily put them on board."
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