Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary has shut down suggestions that billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk could acquire Europe’s largest airline, as their public disagreement continues to draw attention.

Addressing reporters at a press briefing on January 21, O’Leary said any takeover is legally impossible, while using the opportunity to fire back at Musk following days of online exchanges.

How the Public Feud Began

The dispute began after O’Leary confirmed Ryanair would not be installing Starlink on board its fleet of over 600 aircraft.

That announcement triggered a sharp exchange on social media, with O’Leary insulting Musk and Musk responding in kind on X, escalating what started as a commercial disagreement into a very public clash of personalities.

Musk’s Takeover Joke Meets Legal Reality

Musk later joked about buying Ryanair and replacing its leadership, even running an online poll that showed strong support from his followers.

O’Leary, however, dismissed the idea outright, pointing to European Union regulations that restrict non-EU ownership of airlines.

“If Elon wants to invest in Ryanair, we would welcome that,” O’Leary said. “But control is not an option, and frankly, it would be a better investment than X.”

Online Drama Drives Bookings, O’Leary Claims

According to O’Leary, the online argument has had an unexpected upside for Ryanair. He claimed bookings rose by 2% to 3% within five days, calling Musk’s response a “Twitter tantrum” that delivered free publicity for the airline.

Despite the attention, Ryanair’s stock has shown little movement, indicating investors are unconvinced by Musk’s takeover comments.

Why Ryanair Walked Away from Starlink Talks

O’Leary also explained that discussions with Starlink had been ongoing for around 12 months before Ryanair decided to walk away.

The key sticking point was cost versus customer demand. “Starlink believes nearly all passengers would pay for WiFi,” O’Leary said. “Our data shows fewer than one in ten would.”

Fuel Costs and Equipment Drag a Major Concern

Beyond pricing, O’Leary said the physical equipment required for Starlink would increase fuel consumption due to aerodynamic drag.

He estimated the added expense could reach $250 million per year, making the service financially unviable for a low-cost carrier like Ryanair.

The airline is now exploring other WiFi options, preferably with providers willing to cover installation costs themselves.

Ryanair Open to Investment, Not Ownership

While Musk’s comments grabbed headlines, O’Leary reiterated that Ryanair remains firmly independent.

Investment, he said, is welcome, but ownership is not on the table.

For now, the Ryanair CEO appears relaxed about the feud, suggesting the attention has delivered tangible benefits in the form of increased bookings, even as the war of words continues online.