Musk and Ryanair CEO clash over cost of Starlink Wi-Fi on planes

Jan 16 (Reuters) - Elon Musk on Friday called Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary an "utter idiot" who should be fired, ​escalating a public spat that began after the airline ‌boss ruled out installing Musk's Starlink internet service on Ryanair aircraft.

O'Leary on Wednesday ‌dismissed the idea of equipping any of Ryanair's more than 600 jets with Musk's Starlink, citing the impact of fuel costs from drag caused by the antenna and estimating the service would ⁠cost the airlines ‌up to $250 million a year.

Musk responded on his social media platform X, saying that O'Leary was "misinformed" ‍and arguing that Ryanair did not know how to measure the fuel impact of Starlink equipment.

Speaking later to Irish radio station Newstalk, O’Leary said ​Musk knew “zero” about aviation and drag, calling the U.S. billionaire ‌an “idiot” and describing X as a “cesspit.”

Musk, whose company SpaceX operates Starlink, fired back on Friday.

"Ryanair CEO is an utter idiot. Fire him." Musk posted on X. When a follower suggested Musk should buy Ryanair and dismiss O’Leary himself, Musk replied: “Good idea.”

Airlines ⁠have become an increasingly important customer ​base for Starlink, a network powered ​by thousands of low‑Earth orbit satellites that aims to provide faster and more reliable in‑flight WiFi. More than ‍two dozen ⁠carriers — including United Airlines, Qatar Airways and Lufthansa — are rolling out the service across their fleets.

While financial terms have ⁠not been disclosed, analysts view Starlink as a premium product likely to ‌appeal primarily to long‑haul and full‑service airlines.

(Reporting by Joe ‌Brock; Editing by Alistair Bell)