Billionaire tech entrepreneur Elon Musk has hinted he could buy budget airline Ryanair, intensifying a public feud with the airline’s outspoken chief executive, Michael O’Leary. The exchange, which has played out largely on social media, began after O’Leary dismissed the idea of installing Musk’s Starlink satellite internet on Ryanair aircraft, citing cost and fuel efficiency concerns.
O’Leary argued that fitting Starlink antennas would increase fuel drag and add between 200 million and 250 million dollars to Ryanair’s annual fuel bill. Musk rejected the claim on his X platform, calling it misinformed and triggering a sharp back and forth between the two business leaders. The dispute quickly turned personal, with Musk suggesting O’Leary should be fired, while Ryanair’s official account joined the exchange by mocking Musk during a recent X outage in the United States.
Despite the noise, investors appeared unconvinced by the takeover talk. According to The Guardian, Ryanair shares closed nearly one percent lower on Tuesday, signalling that markets were not taking Musk’s remarks seriously. Any potential deal would also face major regulatory barriers, as European Union rules require airlines based in the bloc to be majority owned by EU nationals or citizens of a small group of associated countries, a condition Musk would struggle to meet.
The row first flared after O’Leary told Irish radio that he would ignore Musk’s views on aviation technology, questioning both the value of in flight internet and Musk’s understanding of aircraft design. O’Leary also insisted that most passengers would not be willing to pay for onboard connectivity. While the exchange has drawn widespread attention online, it has so far remained a war of words rather than a credible corporate move, with Ryanair continuing to brush off the idea of a sale.