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The very public argument between Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary and Elon Musk has officially entered the absurdist phase. What began as a debate over the viability of Starlink’s satellite Wi-Fi on an ultra-low-cost airline has spiraled into taunts, polls on X, billionaire theatrics, and now a Ryanair fare sale built around ridicule.
The dispute started with Ryanair’s refusal to install Starlink across its fleet. O’Leary argued the technology adds drag and weight, increases fuel burn, and would require passengers to pay for something they don’t value on short flights. Musk pushed back publicly, claiming the performance hit is overstated and that airlines refusing Wi-Fi risk losing customers as in-flight connectivity becomes mainstream.
The exchange escalated quickly. O’Leary dismissed Musk as an idiot who doesn’t understand aviation, while Musk fired back that the Ryanair chief should be fired and even mused about acquiring the airline himself. While the takeover talk was unserious, it bolstered the feud’s spectacle.
Rather than retreat, Ryanair’s marketing team embraced the chaos. The carrier announced a tongue-in-cheek “Big Idiot Seat Sale,” aimed at the audience watching the spat unfold online on X. The promotion fits Ryanair’s long-standing playbook: irreverence sells, outrage drives clicks, and controversy yields free publicity.
Beneath the theatrics is a genuine strategic question. As more full-service and hybrid carriers adopt high-speed, free Wi-Fi, the baseline for passenger expectations continues to shift. Ryanair’s model has always assumed its customers prioritize price above all else. Musk is betting that connectivity is becoming a non-negotiable utility, even for short-haul flyers.
The two worldviews are set for another round at an upcoming press conference, though few expect a sober debate about aviation economics. More likely outcomes include quips, memes, and a viral fare sale tailored for maximum engagement.
Anthony’s Take: For now, Ryanair gets attention, Musk gets engagement on his social media platform, and the public gets entertainment from a feud that feels uniquely suited to the moment. Whether anything meaningful comes from it is still an open question, but passengers considering a Ryanair trip may as well enjoy the discounts now.
(Featured Image Credit: Ryanair via X.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
