Can Elon Musk Buy Ryanair? Starlink Feud Exposes EU Ownership Rules.

The commercial aviation world is watching a public war of words. The dispute is between tech billionaire Elon Musk and Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary. It began over the potential use of Starlink in-flight Wi-Fi on Europe’s largest budget airline. The feud quickly escalated into personal insults and a public takeover discussion. This highlights the deep divide over technology adoption in the low-cost carrier business model.

The Starlink Wi-Fi Dispute

The disagreement started when Ryanair ruled out installing Starlink satellite internet across its fleet. O’Leary cited that the required antenna would increase aircraft weight and aerodynamic drag. This would potentially raise fuel costs by up to two percent, according to the airline's estimates.

Ryanair's business model relies on maintaining ultra-low operating costs. O’Leary argued that passengers on short, one-hour European flights would not pay extra for connectivity. SpaceX, which operates Starlink, disputed this fuel Starlink fuel penalty figure. The company claimed its analysis showed a fuel penalty closer to 0.3 percent or less on a Boeing 737-800 aircraft.

Starlink is already in use or being adopted by several major carriers. These include United Airlines, Qatar Airways, and WestJet. This shows a growing industry trend toward high-speed satellite connectivity.

Escalation and Acquisition Speculation

The technical debate quickly turned personal. O’Leary called Musk “an idiot” for his comments on aviation. Musk responded on his social media platform X, calling the Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary an “utter idiot.” He then suggested O’Leary should be fired from the company.

In a move reminiscent of his acquisition of Twitter (now X), Musk posted a poll. He asked his followers if he should buy Ryanair and “restore Ryan as their rightful ruler.” The poll drew a massive response. Ryanair's social media team responded with a “Great Idiots Seat Sale.” This public exchange kept the Elon Musk Ryanair feud in the global headlines.

The Financial and Regulatory Reality

Ryanair is Europe's largest budget airline. Its market capitalization is approximately $35–36 billion USD as of January 2026. This valuation is well within Musk's financial capacity. However, any serious airline acquisition speculation faces a major regulatory hurdle.

Under EU airline ownership rules, airlines based in the European Union must be majority-owned and controlled by EU nationals. Ryanair previously enforced this rule by restricting non-EU nationals from buying its shares after Brexit. This requirement makes a full takeover by a non-EU national like Musk virtually impossible. O'Leary publicly stated that Musk "knows even less about airline ownership rules than he does about aircraft aerodynamics."

Industry Impact and Future Outlook

This high-profile dispute highlights the tension between two aviation philosophies. One is the ultra-low-cost model, prioritizing cost control above all else. The other is the push for advanced passenger amenities, such as high-speed Wi-Fi. The low-cost carrier business model remains focused on short-haul flights. This makes the return on investment for expensive in-flight connectivity questionable for Ryanair.

• Key Challenge: The added weight and drag from satellite antennas directly impact fuel consumption. This is a critical factor for all airlines, especially budget carriers.
• Market Trend: Despite Ryanair's stance, many global carriers are adopting Starlink. This suggests that in-flight Wi-Fi is quickly becoming a standard passenger expectation.
• Regulatory Barrier: The EU airline ownership rules provide a strong defense against any hostile takeover attempts by non-EU entities. This makes a Ryanair acquisition unlikely.

For now, Ryanair passengers should not expect Wi-Fi on board. The airline remains firm in its commitment to cost-saving measures. The public feud has, however, brought attention to the ongoing debate over connectivity in the European short-haul market.

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