US EditionRyanair’s O’Leary Thanks Elon Musk for ‘Free PR’ in Starlink Spat
Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary says in-flight Wi-Fi will be installed only when costs fall from the current estimated €200 million annual expense, despite media attention from the Musk feud.
- On Jan. 26, Michael O'Leary told analysts the spat with Elon Musk over Starlink generated roughly 1,500 news articles across nearly 60 nations, producing a bumper week of free publicity.
- Citing technical and cost reasons, Ryanair argued earlier this month that Starlink antennas add 2 percent fuel drag and estimated in-service costs at around 200 million euros a year.
- Ryanair responded with a `Big 'Idiot' Seat Sale` of 100,000 discounted seats, and bookings rose by 2 percent to 3 percent during the feud, according to O'Leary.
- Quarterly results reveal Ryanair flew 47.5 billion passengers with revenues of 3.2 billion euros, but profit dropped 80 percent to 30 million euros.
- Looking ahead, O'Leary said Ryanair will equip planes with in-flight wifi only when costs fall around 200 million euros, predicting most airlines will fit wifi within five years with future antenna designs that avoid protrusion.
13 Articles
13 Articles
Ryanair CEO who argued with Elon Musk over Starlink thinks every airline will have free WiFi within 5 years
Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary at last Wednesday's press conference.Brian Lawless/PA Images via Getty ImagesRyanair CEO Michael O'Leary argued with Elon Musk about Starlink last week.But he thinks that as the technology improves, "We'll all be offering free WiFi access."O'Leary said he would adopt it "in a heartbeat" if antennae didn't need to be installed outside the plane.Free and fast in-flight WiFi could be available on every plane within five …
The conflict between the bosses of Ryanair and SpaceX has intensified in recent days. In the face of Michael's refusal to install the Starlink Wi-Fi on his aircraft, Elon Musk has indeed considered the idea of...
Michael O'Leary reveals how much Elon Musk spat is worth to Ryanair
Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary has claimed his public spat with Elon Musk has earned the budget airline €50m worth of free publicity, writes Christian McCashin. But despite rising passenger numbers and free PR from the feud with the billionaire Tesla boss, average Ryanair fares are on course to rise by around €4 to €48 this year, according to a forecast published by the airline yesterday. Its annual outlook for passenger growth said full-year prof…
Ryanair Says Free Wi-Fi Is Coming – But Elon Musk’s Starlink Isn’t the Solution Yet
Skift Take: Following a very public clash with Elon Musk, Michael O’Leary acknowledges that onboard Wi-Fi will soon be ubiquitous, but Ryanair won’t absorb the cost until the tech aligns with the economics.Read the Complete Story On Skift
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