In an exceptionally high profile week for Michael O’Leary – even by the Ryanair chief’s publicity-hungry standards – the airline boss has managed to move the dial on the onboard WiFi debate away from Ryanair not offering any to its passengers, and towards a very PR-positive public spat with Elon Musk; confirm a new summer route; clarify some future customer service queries; and still have time for a fresh attack on the Government over the lingering issue of the Dublin Airport passenger cap…and it’s only Wednesday!
Here’s a whistle-stop distillation of what’s been going on:
WiFi/Starlink
The PR masterclass began, quietly and subtly, last week with Michael O’Leary pooh-poohing any idea of Ryanair going down the onboard passenger WiFi route, with him citing additional fuel costs in the main (“You need to put antenna on fuselage, it comes with a 2% fuel penalty because of the weight and drag…We don’t think our passengers are willing to pay for WiFi for an average 1-hour flight,” he told Reuters last week).
Most long-haul carriers have been busy signing up to WiFi providers in recent months, with Elon Musk’s Starlink the preferred provider for many airlines.
Ryanair, this week, clarified it was not a Starlink issue and that it is not currently interested in providing onboard WiFi from any operator. However, that didn’t stop the outbreak of a war of words between Mr Musk and Mr O’Leary; with the former suggesting to his online followers that he should buy Ryanair, while also suggesting Mr O’Leary should depart the business.
Ryanair swiftly launched a new seat sale, chiefly as a tool with which to ridicule Mr Musk. And then, at a press conference in Dublin this morning, the airline directly tackled the issue of a Musk investment …
Elon Musk ‘Investment’
At today’s press conference, Mr O’Leary was in bullish form – quipping that “If he [Mr Musk] wants to call me an idiot, he certainly won’t be the first or the last.”
Mr O’Leary also explained that Ryanair had actually looked at the Starlink model, but said the costs would be too high for the airline, as installation would cost €250m per year and Ryanair’s fuel bill would surge by €100m-€200m on top of that, due to the drag effect from the antenna system. He also said short-haul passengers would be unwilling to pay extra for the service.
He tackled the investment issue by welcoming Mr Musk as a potential investor, but pointed out the fact that EU law blocks any non-European citizen from owning European airlines.
Ryanair, Mr O’Leary, said: “would welcome an investment from Elon Musk.”
“We’re a publicly owned company. He’s free to do so at any time, but non-European citizens cannot own a majority of European airlines…If he wants to invest in Ryanair, we would think it’s a very good investment.”
With Mr Musk dealt with, Mr O’Leary turned on a familiar foe – the Irish Government and its handling of the Dublin Airport passenger cap, which is in the – albeit, slow – process of being overturned …
Taoiseach/Dublin Airport
Mr O’Leary said Government action is needed on aviation and tourism, warning that transatlantic flights from Ireland – particularly Aer Lingus flights – could be blocked by the Trump Administration, given a worrying rise in US airline impatience over a solving of the cap issue.
“The inaction of Micheál Martin’s Government is an embarrassment. Airlines 4 America have now filed a complaint with the U.S DOT, calling on the U.S Govt to take reciprocal action against Ireland for its indefensible failure to scrap the cap,” Mr O’Leary told reporters.
He added:“Micheál Martin’s failure to scrap the cap 13 months after he promised to do – despite a majority of 20 seats – is an international joke. The time has passed for promises, cabinet discussions, heads of bills, or any more delay. It’s time for action! In February, the European Court of Justice will rule on Ireland’s illegal cap, which is in breach of Europe’s Charter on freedom of movement. This cap is also contrary to the EU – U.S open skies agreement. After 13 months of inaction, Airlines 4 America has now made a complaint to the U.S DOT, calling for immediate action to force Ireland to scrap this illegal cap. None of this would be necessary, if our “do-nothing” Taoiseach and his “do-nothing” Government had delivered their (Jan 2025) promise to scrap this cap as soon as possible.
“The problem Ireland suffers is a “do-nothing” Taoiseach leading a “do-nothing” Goverment. Micheál Martin prefers overseas trips rather than delivering real action on his Government Programme here at home. It’s time for Micheál Martin to scrap the cap, or quit. His failure to deliver, and that of his Government, is indefensible and inexplicable.
“The NAMA Legislation was passed within 24 hours. Why can’t his Government pass the Legislation to scrap this cap within 1 week or 1 month? He has a 20-seat majority, he’s had 13 months to pass this law, so he should get on with the job and allow the airlines – both Ryanair, and American – to continue to grow traffic, tourism, and economic wealth for Ireland. In 2025 Dublin Airport handled 36.4m pax, which is 4.2m more than the cap. This cap is not only illegal, but is completely outdated and irrelevant.
“It’s time for Micheál Martin to spend more time at home, delivering his Programme for Government (“scrap the cap”), and if necessary, send his Ministers overseas on junkets. If Micheál Martin spent more time at home, and less on his never-ending “worldwide tour”, then the illegal Dublin Airport cap would already be scrapped, and real reform on housing and infrastructure would be delivered as well.”
Route Expansion
The one bit of solid business expansion came on Monday, with Ryanair quietly unveiling summer expansion plans out of Tirana, within which it confirmed its previously-flagged new Dublin-Albania direct route. A $400m investment in Albania, sees Ryanair station four planes there; underlining Albania’s reputation as Europe’s next tourism growth market.
