Michael O'Leary, chief executive of Ryanair, Europe's largest airline, said his ongoing dispute with tech giant Elon Musk has boosted ticket sales at the budget airline. "This is very good for our booking business." O'Leary said at a press conference in Dublin on Wednesday, while highlighting that the company is currently launching a campaign called "Big Idiot Special Ticket Promotion"**.
On Wednesday, January 21, 2026, on the eve of a press conference in Dublin, Ireland, Michael O'Leary, CEO of Ryanair, Europe's largest airline, appeared in front of the screen.
"We like to see this kind of public relations war of words, it can drive bookings for Ryanair." He also added that the airline will provide Musk with a free ticket.
The trigger for the spat originated on January 14, when Ryanair (stock code: RYAAY) head O'Leary said that the company would not install the "Starlink" satellite wireless network technology developed by Musk's Space Exploration Technology Company (SpaceX) on its aircraft due to concerns about increased flight resistance and the resulting increase in fuel costs.
On the same day, Musk posted on social platform X that O'Leary was "informed."
"I doubt they can even measure the change in fuel consumption accurately," he added.
Musk also called O'Leary a "complete idiot" and a "moron."
O'Leary, who is known for his candid words and knows how to build public opinion, hit back in an interview on Irish radio station "News Talk" on Friday.
"I don't need to pay attention to Elon Musk at all. He is an idiot - even though he has a lot of money, the essence of an idiot has not changed." O'Leary said, "Musk has absolutely zero understanding of flight and air resistance."
Space Exploration Technology Company (SpaceX) founded by Musk is a rocket manufacturing and space transportation services company.
CNN has contacted Ryanair and SpaceX for comment, but has not yet received a response.
O'Leary said at Wednesday's press conference that he was not at all offended by Musk's comments.
"Anyone who has teenage children at home knows that you will always be called an idiot or a fool by your children." He said, "I can't afford to go out and get scolded."
O'Leary also further elaborated on the considerations behind Ryanair's refusal to carry Starlink network on its aircraft - more and more airlines have begun to introduce this service.
"The Starlink system itself is very good." O'Leary said, "But the problem is that there is a cost to install it on the aircraft."
O'Leary estimated that installing two Starlink antennas on the fuselage of each of Ryanair's 643 aircraft would cost between $200 million and $250 million annually in installation costs and rising operating costs due to increased flight resistance.
O'Leary said the cost would not be recouped even if airlines charged passengers for using the service.
He pointed out that although Starlink claims that about 90% of passengers are willing to pay for in-flight Internet, Ryanair’s research shows that the actual proportion of passengers willing to pay is less than 10%.
O'Leary also admitted that he did not expect the decision to spark a row, and Musk even raised the possibility of buying Ryanair.
"How about I just buy Ryanair and appoint someone whose real name is Ryan to run the company?" Musk wrote on Friday.
In another reply to Ryanair that same day, he wrote: "How much would it cost to buy your company?"
O'Leary responded on Wednesday that although non-EU citizens cannot hold majority stakes in European airlines, he welcomes Musk's investment.
“We thought it would be a very good investment and the rate of return would certainly be much higher than what he was earning on social platform X,” he said.
"At the same time, we would like to sincerely thank him for bringing us so much extra attention."