Michael O’Leary, CEO of Ryanair, claims that his ongoing feud with Elon Musk is boosting ticket sales for the airline, which has recently launched a “big stupid seat sale.” The conflict started when Ryanair decided not to install Musk’s Starlink satellite Wi-Fi on its planes, citing concerns over increased fuel costs. Musk, in response, called O’Leary “misinformed” and made derogatory remarks.
During a radio interview, O’Leary dismissed Musk’s comments, calling him a wealthy fool lacking knowledge about aviation. He elaborated on the decision against Starlink, noting that installation costs could be between $200 million and $250 million annually, plus additional running costs due to drag from antennas. He mentioned that while Starlink claims a high willingness among passengers to pay for internet, most airlines aren’t adopting the service.
O’Leary expressed surprise at the feud and joked about Musk potentially buying Ryanair, despite the ownership regulations preventing non-EU nationals from holding a majority stake in European airlines. He welcomed Musk’s investment and thanked him for the publicity.
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