Ryanair's Chief Executive Michael O’Leary has brushed aside Elon Musk’s suggestion about acquiring the airline, dismissing the billionaire's snarky remarks as tensions rise in their public dispute.
During a recent interaction, O’Leary commented amid an escalating exchange of words triggered by Ryanair's choice not to implement Musk’s Starlink satellite Wi-Fi technology in its planes. The airline has contended that the added fuel drag resulting from the system’s antennas would render it prohibitively expensive.
In response to Musk's claim that O’Leary was “misinformed,” the Ryanair CEO expressed his unfiltered opinion on an Irish radio station, saying, “I would pay no attention whatsoever to Elon Musk, he’s an idiot.”
Musk retorted on his social media platform, X, labeling O’Leary an “utter idiot” and an “imbecile.” He even teased the potential of buying Ryanair, asking, “Should I buy Ryan Air and put someone whose actual name is Ryan in charge?” He subsequently conducted a poll on the platform, revealing that 76.5% of respondents were in support of this notion.
O’Leary, addressing reporters in Dublin, where Ryanair's headquarters is located, clarified that Musk could not gain control of the airline, irrespective of his intentions.
“Non-European citizens can’t hold a majority interest in European airlines,” O’Leary stated, emphasizing that Musk was originally from South Africa and currently resides in the United States.
“However, if he wishes to invest in Ryanair, we would regard it as an excellent investment—definitely far better than the returns he’s currently seeing from X,” he articulated.
Elon Musk, who acquired X (formerly Twitter) for $44 billion in 2022, has had prior disputes with the platform's management.
O’Leary, known for enjoying public controversies, remarked on the increased attention brought by this clash, expressing his gratitude to Musk for the added publicity. Following this, Ryanair has initiated a seat sale featuring promotional imagery depicting the billionaire.
Unfazed by the personal barbs exchanged, O’Leary quipped, “All I would say to Elon Musk is he would have to join the back of a very, very, very long queue of people” who have insulted him in the past, which includes his own four teenage children.
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