Ryanair(US:RYAAY) 智通财经网·2026-01-20 09:34Core Viewpoint - The public feud between Elon Musk and Ryanair has escalated, with Musk suggesting a potential acquisition of the airline after a conflict with its CEO, Michael O'Leary [1][2]. Group 1: Conflict Background - The conflict began when Musk's SpaceX attempted to sell Starlink satellite internet services to Ryanair, which was met with a strong rejection from O'Leary, who claimed that adding satellite antennas would increase fuel costs by approximately $250 million annually [2]. - O'Leary criticized Musk's understanding of aerodynamics, leading to a rapid escalation from technical disagreements to personal attacks on social media [2]. Group 2: Acquisition Speculation - On January 19, 2026, Musk conducted a public poll on X, asking followers if he should acquire Ryanair, which garnered over 600,000 responses with nearly 80% in favor [3]. - Following Musk's interest, Ryanair's stock price rose by about 2.2% in pre-market trading on January 20, reflecting speculative interest in a potential "Musk-style restructuring" [3]. Group 3: Market Reactions and Analysis - Despite the stock price increase, mainstream market analysts remain cautious, noting the absence of any regulatory filings or formal offers regarding the acquisition [3]. - Current market predictions suggest a low probability of Musk completing a substantial acquisition of Ryanair by mid-2026, with traders estimating only a 7% chance of such an event occurring [3]. Group 4: Company Overview - Ryanair's market capitalization is approximately €30 billion, making it three times larger than Germany's Lufthansa, the largest airline group in Europe [6]. - O'Leary has been instrumental in transforming Ryanair into Europe's largest low-cost airline and is one of its top shareholders, recently receiving a significant bonus due to the company's stock performance, which rose by 55% last year [6].