Ryanair Escalates Feud with Elon Musk Via ‘Idiots’ Seat Sale
The ongoing rivalry between Ryanair and Elon Musk is heating up. On Tuesday, Ryanair’s CEO Michael O’Leary announced a “Great Idiots seat sale,” aimed specifically at Musk and those he refers to as “idiots” on social media platform X. The airline is offering 100,000 one-way tickets for £16.99 to various destinations, including Basel, Switzerland; Birmingham, United Kingdom; and Cologne, Germany. The tongue-in-cheek campaign encourages customers to act quickly, stating, “Buy one now before Musk gets one!!!!”
Background of the Feud
The tensions began on a recent Wednesday when O’Leary expressed his disinterest in adopting Starlink, a satellite internet service from Musk’s SpaceX. In an interview with Irish radio station Newstalk, O’Leary argued that the required antenna would negatively impact the airplanes’ aerodynamics, leading to substantial fuel cost increases estimated at between £200 million and £250 million. He noted that this would translate into an extra £1 charge per ticket, which he feared would deter Ryanair’s price-sensitive clientele.
Musk’s Reaction
In response, Musk conducted a poll on X to gauge interest in purchasing Ryanair. The poll quickly gained traction, amassing nearly 900,000 votes, with about 75% of participants favoring the idea of Musk taking over the airline. The poll even humorously proposed that Musk would “restore Ryan as their rightful ruler,” referencing one of Ryanair’s co-founders, Tony Ryan.
Outspoken Remarks
O’Leary, known for his blunt persona, countered Musk’s assertions by insisting that Musk miscalculated the potential fuel costs associated with installing Starlink. In a radio interview, O’Leary labeled Musk “very wealthy, but…still an idiot,” emphasizing Musk’s lack of airline management experience. Musk, not to be outdone, retorted by calling O’Leary an “utter idiot” and expressed a desire to buy Ryanair.
Social Media Banter
Ryanair’s social media team is notorious for its wit, often using it to poke fun at Musk. Following a notable outage on X, the airline’s official account quipped, “Perhaps you need Wi-Fi @elonmusk?” Furthermore, they recently dismissed in-flight WiFi as unnecessary propaganda.
Market Context
Musk’s wealth, estimated at $681 billion, dwarfs Ryanair’s market capitalization of nearly $36 billion. Despite Musk’s humorous remarks about acquiring the airline, regulatory frameworks in Europe would likely prevent such an acquisition, as EU laws require airlines to be predominantly owned by EU nationals.
As O’Leary aptly pointed out, “Musk knows even less about airline ownership rules than he does about aircraft aerodynamics.” This ongoing exchange between the two billionaires provides a captivating glimpse into the intersection of aviation and technology where humor, rivalry, and marketing converge.
