Elon Musk’s ongoing feud with Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary has taken an interesting turn, with O’Leary claiming that Musk’s criticism of the airline for not equipping Starlink has actually led to an increase in bookings for the airline. This comes after Musk expressed his disappointment over Ryanair not using Starlink for its flights, which would provide fast and reliable Wi-Fi onboard.
The tension between the two escalated when Musk jokingly mentioned the idea of purchasing Ryanair and putting someone named Ryan in charge, effectively removing O’Leary from his position. In response, O’Leary held a press conference to address the issue and refute Musk’s claims about the potential benefits of Starlink for Ryanair flights, which are typically short-haul.
During the press conference, O’Leary stated that the Starlink team believed that a significant portion of passengers would be willing to pay for Wi-Fi access, while Ryanair’s experience suggested otherwise. He also humorously mentioned Musk’s derogatory remarks towards him, stating that he was used to such criticism, including from his own children.
Despite the public spat between Musk and O’Leary, the airline CEO acknowledged the positive impact of Musk’s publicity on Ryanair’s bookings, which saw a 2 to 3 percent increase in recent days. O’Leary expressed gratitude for the attention but emphasized that Musk was mistaken about certain aspects, such as ownership regulations for European airlines.
Furthermore, O’Leary criticized Musk’s social media platform, X, referring to it as a “cesspit,” and indicated his lack of interest in joining it. However, Ryanair has maintained an active presence on X for years, known for its humorous and light-hearted content.
As the back-and-forth banter continues between Musk and O’Leary, observers are divided on whether the feud is beneficial or detrimental to Ryanair. While some view it as a distraction that should be resolved, others perceive it as a lighthearted exchange between two prominent figures.
Ultimately, it is likely that the feud will fizzle out without any significant repercussions, serving as a brief moment of amusement in the business world. The public will have to wait and see if Musk and O’Leary can find common ground or if their playful rivalry will persist in the days to come.