Ryanair And Elon Musk Clash Over Starlink Wi-Fi Plans

Ryanair, Europe’s largest budget airline, has found itself at the center of a high-profile spat with tech billionaire Elon Musk over the prospect of installing Starlink Wi-Fi on its fleet. The debate, which unfolded publicly in late January 2026, has spotlighted the challenges and calculations involved in bringing in-flight internet to millions of cost-conscious travelers across the continent.

The story began when Ryanair’s Chief Financial Officer, Neil Sorahan, addressed growing speculation about whether the airline would follow rivals like Lufthansa and British Airways in outfitting its aircraft with Starlink’s satellite internet technology. According to Bloomberg, Sorahan explained that installing Starlink would require fitting each plane with a special antenna, a modification that would cause a 2% increase in fuel drag. For a carrier as tightly focused on efficiency as Ryanair, that extra drag translates directly into higher operating costs—a non-trivial concern for a company whose business model is built on keeping fares low and flights short.

“There is still a fuel cost that we would have to absorb,” Sorahan said, as quoted by The Guardian. He added that Ryanair is “not prepared to equip its jets with Wi-Fi yet,” especially since most of its flights average just two hours and “passengers typically do not want to pay for Internet.” But he left the door open for future adoption, noting that the airline would consider Starlink or any other provider “when the tech and price is right.”

The technical and financial hurdles were further underscored by Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary. When asked if the airline would soon join the Starlink bandwagon, O’Leary flatly rejected the idea, citing the anticipated 2% fuel drag and the resulting $200-250 million increase to Ryanair’s already hefty $5 billion annual kerosene bill. This, he argued, was simply too much for an airline that prides itself on offering the lowest possible fares to its customers.

Elon Musk, never one to shy away from a public debate, took to his X platform (formerly Twitter) to challenge Ryanair’s reasoning. He labeled the airline’s interpretation of Starlink’s impact as “misinformed,” triggering a lively exchange of barbs between the two high-profile CEOs. In a tit-for-tat that quickly went viral, O’Leary and Musk each called the other an “idiot,” with the spat quickly becoming fodder for social media and news outlets alike.

Rather than shying away from the controversy, Ryanair leaned in. O’Leary claimed that the attention had actually benefited the airline, telling reporters that the feud had “increased bookings by between 2% and 3%.” The company even launched a cheeky “big idiot sale” campaign poking fun at Musk, a move that, according to O’Leary, drove even more traffic to Ryanair’s website. Sorahan described the whole episode as “good fun” that brought more people to the brand.

Despite the publicity boost, Ryanair’s position on in-flight Wi-Fi remains unchanged for now. As Sorahan put it, he has been “looking at Wi-Fi for as long as I have been at Ryanair,” but the economics simply don’t add up. The airline’s core customer base, flying short-haul routes that typically last between one and three hours, has shown little appetite for paying extra for internet access. For a company that has grown by stripping away every non-essential cost, adding a pricey new amenity that few seem to want is a tough sell.

Yet, Ryanair isn’t ruling out in-flight Wi-Fi forever. Sorahan emphasized that the airline will keep its options open, “look[ing] at whoever is the best, when the tech and price is right.” The implication is clear: if satellite internet providers can deliver a product that doesn’t significantly impact fuel efficiency and can be offered at a price point acceptable to Ryanair’s famously frugal passengers, the airline could reconsider its stance.

The broader context for this debate is Ryanair’s continued dominance in the European aviation market. On January 26, 2026, the airline raised its forecasts for passenger numbers, profit growth, and fares. Ryanair now expects to carry 216 million passengers by March 2027, a significant increase that underscores its position as the continent’s largest carrier. Average fares for the current year are projected to rise by 7% to 8%, up from previous guidance of 7%. In the third quarter ending December 2025, average fares rose by 4% to €44, according to company data.

Financially, Ryanair reported a 22% drop in profit after tax to €115 million for the third quarter, a figure that excludes an €85 million provision for a fine from the Italian competition authority. The company is appealing the fine, which adds another layer of uncertainty to its balance sheet. Nevertheless, Ryanair remains optimistic about its full-year performance, projecting a profit after tax of between €2.13 billion and €2.23 billion.

Operationally, Ryanair continues to modernize its fleet. The airline reported that Boeing deliveries are progressing well, a notable improvement over previous years when the aircraft supplier struggled with delays. The final four Max 8 models are expected to be delivered by the end of February 2026, with the newer Max 10 set to join the fleet in spring 2027. These additions are critical for maintaining Ryanair’s edge in terms of fuel efficiency and capacity.

Despite these positive trends, Ryanair’s stock price took a modest hit in early European trading on January 26, 2026, dropping 1.7%. This dip follows a remarkable 50% rise in the company’s share price over the course of 2025, reflecting both the volatility and the resilience of the airline sector.

As for the ongoing drama with Musk, it’s become something of a sideshow—albeit one that has brought unexpected benefits to Ryanair. The public spat has generated free publicity and, if O’Leary is to be believed, a measurable uptick in bookings. For now, though, Ryanair remains focused on its core mission: moving millions of passengers across Europe at the lowest possible cost, with or without Wi-Fi at 35,000 feet.

The debate over in-flight internet is far from settled. As technology evolves and passenger expectations shift, Ryanair may yet revisit its stance. For now, the airline is content to watch and wait, confident that its no-frills approach—and its ability to turn even a Twitter feud into a marketing win—will keep it flying high.