Overview
- Michael O’Leary used a Dublin press conference to thank Elon Musk for the attention, citing a 2–3% rise in website traffic and a five‑day booking lift after the very public spat.
- Ryanair leaned into the moment with a “Big Idiot Seat Sale,” advertising fares around $20 for February through April and drawing millions of hits to the promotion.
- O’Leary said Musk is welcome to buy shares but cannot control the EU‑regulated carrier, quipping that Ryanair would be a better investment than his purchase of X.
- The quarrel stems from Ryanair’s decision to reject Starlink, with O’Leary citing installation costs and antenna drag that he says could add €100–€200 million to annual fuel bills and low expected passenger uptake for paid Wi‑Fi.
- Musk amplified the fight on X with a poll showing roughly 75% support for a Ryanair purchase and traded insults with O’Leary, even as airlines such as Qatar Airways, WestJet and Hawaiian move ahead with Starlink.