Ryanair Group CEO Michael O’Leary held a press conference in Dublin on January 21, 2026, to address his public dispute with Elon Musk over Ryanair’s decision not to install Starlink satellite internet on its aircraft. The disagreement centered on Ryanair’s stated concern about antenna-related fuel drag and cost, while Musk criticized O’Leary on X and floated buying the airline.
What prompted the press conference?
The dispute began after Ryanair ruled out installing Starlink on its aircraft. O’Leary said the antenna system would add fuel drag and make the service too costly. That was the airline CEO’s stated rationale, not an independently verified engineering or financial finding. Associated Press coverage described the cost concern.
Musk responded publicly on X with insults and a tongue-in-cheek suggestion that he could buy Ryanair. O’Leary dismissed the purchase suggestion at the press conference. Reuters Connect’s event video described the conference as addressing the Starlink dispute and Musk’s threat to buy the airline.
What did O’Leary say about Musk?
At the Dublin press conference, O’Leary said: “I suspect he’s a bigger idiot than me, but nevertheless, he probably thinks I am a bigger idiot than him.” CBS News attributed the remark to him at the Wednesday event. CBS News coverage
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Was the feud really about Starlink or publicity?
The underlying disagreement was whether Ryanair would install Starlink connectivity on its aircraft. The public exchange also became a source of attention for the airline. In a later report, RTÉ quoted O’Leary describing the row as a “public negotiation that turned into a huge PR gift.” That is his retrospective characterization; the available reporting does not establish that the dispute caused a specific change in bookings, sales or revenue. RTÉ coverage
The parties’ positions should not be mistaken for independently measured results: Ryanair cited antenna-related drag and cost, while Musk publicly criticized the decision. The event reporting does not provide comparable, independently verified performance figures for passenger demand, fuel use or financial impact.
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When and where was the event?
O’Leary held the press conference in Dublin on January 21, 2026. Reuters Connect’s video captions date and locate the event there. Ryanair’s official June 19, 2026 announcement that O’Leary would remain Group CEO until April 2032 is later company context, not part of the January dispute. Ryanair announcement
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