A surprising twist has unfolded in the aviation world as billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk teased the idea of buying Ryanair, one of Europe’s largest budget airlines.
The drama erupted after a heated public exchange between Musk and Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary, who is never shy about voicing his opinions.
Clash Over Starlink Technology
The feud began last week when O’Leary dismissed the idea of equipping Ryanair planes with Musk’s Starlink satellite internet, a move already adopted by carriers like Lufthansa and British Airways.
He argued that the addition of Starlink antennas would increase fuel consumption by about 2%, potentially adding $200 million to $250 million annually to the airline’s fuel costs.
Musk didn’t take the comment lightly.
He fired back on his X platform, calling O’Leary “misinformed.”
The exchange quickly escalated into a war of words, with Musk even suggesting that O’Leary should be removed from his position.
Musk Jokes About Buying Ryanair
The feud took an even more audacious turn on Friday when Musk floated the idea of purchasing Ryanair outright.
He asked his X followers: “Should I buy Ryan Air and put someone whose actual name is Ryan in charge?”
Later, he ran a poll asking if he should “restore Ryan as their rightful ruler.”
The response was overwhelmingly in favor, with over 75% of nearly 900,000 participants supporting the idea.
Musk’s playful jab references Tony Ryan, the Irish billionaire who co-founded Ryanair in 1984 and passed away in 2007.
Ryanair Fires Back
Ryanair wasn’t staying quiet.
The airline’s official X account mocked Musk during a US-wide X outage, tweeting: “Perhaps you need Wi-Fi #elonmusk?”
Musk replied with characteristic humor: “How much would it cost to buy you?”
Despite the online spectacle, investors seemed largely unmoved.
According to The Guardian, Ryanair shares ended nearly 1% lower following the exchange, signaling that the stock market isn’t taking the takeover chatter seriously.
Legal and Regulatory Hurdles
Even if Musk were serious about a takeover, European Union regulations could complicate matters.
EU-based airlines must be majority-owned by EU nationals or citizens of Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein.
This presents a challenge for Musk, who was born in South Africa and is now a US citizen.
O’Leary Hits Back
The tension started after O’Leary told Irish radio station Newstalk that he would ignore Musk’s opinions on aviation technology.
“He’s an idiot. Very wealthy, but he’s still an idiot,” O’Leary remarked, adding that Musk has “zero” understanding of aircraft drag.
The Ryanair CEO also questioned whether passengers would pay for in-flight internet, saying: “If it’s free, they’ll use it. But they won’t pay one euro each.”
O’Leary jokingly noted he was “thankfully” too old to be caught up in social media battles.
What’s Next?
For now, the Musk-O’Leary feud remains largely a digital spectacle, drawing headlines and online polls more than market moves or serious acquisition talks.
Whether this is just a playful spat or the beginning of a real-world business maneuver, the aviation world will be watching closely.
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