Ryanair CEO Mocks Elon Musk With 'Big Idiot' Seat Sale, Offers Free Flight

Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary has mocked Elon Musk with a "big idiot" seat sale and a tongue-in-cheek offer of a free flight, escalating a public feud after criticizing Starlink's in-flight internet for adding fuel costs. The promotion offers 100,000 one-way tickets at €16.99. O'Leary said on January 21, 2026, during a Dublin press conference that Musk is likely "a bigger idiot than me," but acknowledged the SpaceX CEO might think otherwise. Ryanair had considered Starlink’s system but rejected it due to an estimated $200–$250 million in annual costs from installation and fuel drag, despite calling the technology "terrific." The spat began when O'Leary dismissed Musk’s Starlink for aircraft use, prompting Musk to label him an "utter idiot" on X, where he also joked about buying Ryanair and installing someone named Ryan as CEO. O'Leary responded that Musk is welcome to invest—though EU rules block majority ownership by non-Europeans—and quipped it would be a better return than Musk’s current earnings on X.