Ryanair(US:RYAAY) Xin Lang Cai Jing·2026-01-17 07:45Core Viewpoint - A heated dispute occurred between Elon Musk and Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary regarding the installation of Starlink devices on aircraft, with O'Leary rejecting the idea due to increased fuel costs and passenger willingness to pay for Wi-Fi services [1][7]. Group 1: Dispute Details - O'Leary stated that installing Starlink equipment would increase fuel consumption by 2% due to added weight and drag, and that most passengers would not pay for Wi-Fi on short flights [1][8]. - Musk responded on social media, claiming O'Leary's information was incorrect and questioning their ability to accurately measure fuel consumption differences [1][7]. - Michael Nicolls, VP of Engineering at Starlink, argued that while traditional equipment may increase fuel consumption by 2%, Starlink's devices are smaller and more efficient, resulting in only a 0.3% increase in fuel consumption for a Boeing 737-800 [1][7]. Group 2: Financial Implications - O'Leary mentioned that the installation of Starlink antennas would lead to an annual cost increase of $200 million to $250 million, translating to an additional cost of about $1 per passenger, which Ryanair cannot afford [8]. - He emphasized that passengers would not pay for internet access, stating they would only use it if it were free [8]. Group 3: Social Media Reactions - Following the dispute, a user suggested Musk should acquire Ryanair and then fire O'Leary, to which Musk humorously agreed [5][10]. - Ryanair's social media account taunted Musk during a reported outage of X in the U.S., suggesting he might need Wi-Fi [10].