Ryanair's CEO Loves the Fight with Elon Musk

Michael O'Leary, the head of Ryanair, is unfazed by his public spat with Elon Musk. In fact, he believes it's been great for business. O'Leary claims their ongoing argument has boosted Ryanair's ticket sales, even joking that they're running a "Big Idiot Seat Sale" because of it.

The Feud Begins

The conflict started when O'Leary refused to install Starlink, Musk's satellite internet service, on Ryanair planes. He argued that it would be too expensive and consume more fuel. Musk retaliated by calling O'Leary some unflattering names on social media. O'Leary shot back, stating that Musk knows little about aviation.

The Cost of Starlink

O'Leary explained that installing Starlink would cost Ryanair $200-250 million annually. He argued that passengers wouldn't pay enough to justify the expense. Despite Starlink's claim that most passengers would pay for internet, Ryanair found that only a few would.

Musk's Threat to Buy Ryanair

Musk even joked about buying Ryanair. O'Leary welcomed the idea but noted that European ownership rules would make it difficult. He also thanked Musk for the publicity, which he believes has benefited Ryanair.

O'Leary's Unfazed Attitude

Known for his outspoken nature, O'Leary doesn't seem bothered by Musk's insults. He joked that he gets called worse names at home by his kids. Ultimately, he sees the feud as a positive for Ryanair's business.