Ryanair would install Elon Musk’s Starlink wifi system on its aircraft if his company would pay the airline’s extra €250 million fuel bill, according to Michael O’Leary, the Irish carrier’s chief executive.
Mr O’Leary and Mr Musk have been involved in a public spat over the last few days after it emerged that Ryanair would not install Starlink’s system as it believes passengers will not pay for the service.
The airline boss explained that aerials needed on aircraft to allow the wifi system work would act as a drag on planes, adding up to €250 million to Ryanair’s €5.5 billion a year fuel bill.
[ Elon Musk asks followers whether he should buy RyanairOpens in new window ]
“If Starlink wants to pay for the fuel drag, we would happily put it on board,” he said.
READ MORE
Ryanair estimates that holidaymakers could pay 3 per cent to 4 per cent more for flights this year anyway as capacity in Europe remains tight. However, its chief executive noted that it was hard to predict precise fare levels, as airlines could pass savings from lower fuel bills back to passengers.
Many European carriers are waiting on new aircraft but face delays of getting them that could stretch into the early 2030s. This and other issues continue to squeeze capacity in the region, Mr O’Leary noted.
He confirmed that Ryanair had been in talks to Starlink and other wifi providers over the last year.
“We like their system, we think it’s a terrific system,” he said, but added that the cost was prohibitive.
[ Michael O’Leary takes aim at ‘liar’ Donald Trump and ‘idiot’ Elon MuskOpens in new window ]
Mr O’Leary did not rule out installing wifi, but stressed that the airline would only do so if developers would cut the costs.
The row between the two businessmen resulted in the pair trading insults, with Mr O’Leary branding the Starlink and Tesla founder an idiot.
On Wednesday, Mr Musk referred to the Irish airline chief as a “retarded t**t”.
Mr O’Leary retorted that the tech mogul would have to join a “very, very, very long queue” of people who wanted to insult him.
Ryanair launched a “big idiots’” promotion on the back of the row, producing a “wonderful boost” for sales, Mr O’Leary said.
In response to social media posts suggesting that Mr Musk buy the airline, Mr O’Leary pointed out that EU rules barred anyone not resident in the bloc from taking control of carriers registered there.
But he added that Mr Musk was welcome to invest in Ryanair if he wanted.
Meanwhile, he argued that axing Dublin Airport’s 32 million a year passenger limit is “the most important thing” the Government can do for jobs.
He pointed out that the Government had failed to scrap the passenger cap, imposed by planners in 2007, despite promising to do so during the general election campaign 13 months ago.
A complaint from North American carriers could result in the US government suspending or limiting Aer Lingus flights there if the Government does not act by the end of the month, he warned.
Industry group, Airlines for America, recently lodged a formal complaint to the US department of transportation, asking that it curtail Irish airlines’ US flight rights if the cap is not dropped by February 1st.
Aer Lingus is the only Irish carrier with scheduled services to the US and Canada.
