Airlines CEO Welcomes Musk Investment Amidst Public Feud and Booking Boost

Ryanair Group Chief Executive Michael O’Leary has publicly stated that the airline would welcome an investment from Elon Musk, despite an ongoing and colorful public dispute between the two executives. Speaking at a press conference in Dublin on January 21, 2026, O’Leary addressed recent social media exchanges with the tech billionaire, noting that the conflict has inadvertently driven a measurable increase in ticket sales.

According to reporting by Reuters, O’Leary confirmed that while Musk is free to purchase shares in the European low-cost carrier, regulatory barriers would prevent him from acquiring a controlling stake. The comments come after days of online insults, during which Musk criticized Ryanair’s refusal to adopt SpaceX’s Starlink Wi-Fi service.

O’Leary, known for his opportunistic approach to public relations, revealed that the high-profile spat has generated significant free publicity for the airline. He claimed that bookings rose by 2-3% over the five-day period leading up to his remarks, attributing the spike directly to the attention generated by the feud.

Investment Comments and EU Regulations

During the press conference, O’Leary responded to Musk’s social media posts, some of which jokingly threatened to buy the airline, by encouraging the investment from a financial perspective. He suggested that Ryanair would offer better returns than Musk’s recent acquisition of social media platform X.

“If he wants to invest in Ryanair, we would think it’s a very good investment.”

— Michael O’Leary (via Reuters)

Ownership Restrictions

However, O’Leary clarified that a full takeover is legally impossible under current European Union laws. As a United States citizen, Musk falls under the restrictions of Regulation (EC) No 1008/2008. This regulation mandates that EU airlines must be more than 50% owned and effectively controlled by EU Member States or their nationals to maintain their operating licenses.

Consequently, non-EU nationals are generally capped at owning 49% of the company’s shares. This legal framework ensures that European carriers remain under European control, a point O’Leary emphasized to temper the notion of a hostile takeover.

The Origins of the Dispute: Starlink and “Fuel Drag”

The conflict began as a business disagreement regarding in-flight connectivity. Ryanair publicly rejected the installation of Starlink satellite internet on its fleet, citing cost and aerodynamic concerns. O’Leary argued that the antennas required for the service would add weight and create “fuel drag,” potentially increasing fuel consumption by approximately 2%.

For an ultra-low-cost carrier operating on thin margins, O’Leary asserted that an estimated cost of €150–€250 million per year for connectivity was unsustainable, particularly given his belief that passengers on short-haul flights are unwilling to pay for Wi-Fi.

Technical Disagreement

Elon Musk responded on X, disputing the technical claims. He labeled O’Leary “misinformed,” asserting that modern Starlink antennas, specifically the Electronically Steered Phased Array type, are low-profile and impose a negligible fuel penalty, estimated by Musk at closer to 0.3%.

Marketing Pivot: The “Big Idiot Seat Sale”

True to form, Ryanair pivoted the personal insults into a marketing campaign. After Musk referred to O’Leary as an “idiot” and a “chimp” on social media, the airline launched a flash sale dubbed the “Big Idiot Seat Sale.” The promotion offered fares starting from €16.99, explicitly dedicated to “Elon and any other idiots on X.”

O’Leary expressed indifference to the personal nature of the attacks, prioritizing the commercial upside.

“I welcome the accusation that I’m a chimp… as long as it increases Ryanair bookings… it’s all good fun and entertainment.”

— Michael O’Leary (Public Statement)

AirPro News Analysis

The rapid conversion of a corporate dispute into a sales event highlights Ryanair’s longstanding Strategy of leveraging controversy for earned media. While the technical debate regarding Starlink’s drag coefficient (2% vs 0.3%) involves legitimate engineering questions, O’Leary’s primary objective appears to be protecting the airline’s cost base while capitalizing on the visibility of Musk’s platform. By engaging with Musk, Ryanair secures global headlines without traditional advertising spend, a tactic that aligns perfectly with its ultra-low-cost business model.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Elon Musk buy Ryanair?

He can buy shares, but he cannot buy a controlling interest (more than 49%) because he is not an EU citizen. EU Regulation 1008/2008 requires European airlines to be majority-owned by EU nationals.

Why did Ryanair reject Starlink?

Ryanair cited high costs and aerodynamic “fuel drag” (increasing fuel burn by roughly 2%) as the primary reasons. CEO Michael O’Leary also argued that passengers on short flights are unlikely to pay for the service.

Did the feud actually help Ryanair?

According to Michael O’Leary, the publicity from the dispute drove a 2-3% increase in bookings over a five-day period in January 2026.

Sources

• Reuters
• Regulation (EC) No 1008/2008