Elon Musk Attacks Ryanair CEO on Starlink WiFi Costs on Planes

JAKARTA - An open dispute between Elon Musk, founder of SpaceX, and Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary, is heating up and attracting the attention of the global aviation industry. This debate centers on plans to use the Starlink satellite internet service for WiFi connectivity on commercial aircraft.

Ryanair, Europe's largest low-cost airline with a fleet of more than 600 Boeing 737 units, has categorically rejected the installation of Starlink. O'Leary reasoned that the system would add weight and air resistance due to external antennas, which according to his calculations could trigger a fuel penalty of around 2 percent. As a result, Ryanair's operating costs are said to have jumped to US$250 million per year, or the equivalent of an additional US$1 per passenger.

"The cost is unreasonable for short-haul flights," O'Leary said in his statement. He added that most Ryanair passengers are not willing to pay for air connectivity services, which is contrary to the airline's ultra-low-cost business model which focuses on efficiency and cheap fares.

Elon Musk responded harshly to the claim. Through a public statement, Musk called O'Leary "misinformed" and assessed that Ryanair did not have accurate technical grounds to calculate the fuel impact of the Starlink device. According to Musk, the additional drag from the Starlink antenna is very small and almost insignificant, especially on short flights lasting about an hour.

"The effect during the climbing phase is also minimal, because the angle of attack of the aircraft during takeoff is much more dominant," said Musk. He also stated that Ryanair's fuel penalty calculation was exaggerated up to ten times, referring to Boeing 737 operational data that had used Starlink. Musk emphasized that the Starlink antenna has a slimmer and more efficient design compared to the old generation connectivity system.

On the other hand, Starlink continues to expand its penetration in the aviation industry. Airlines such as Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Qatar Airways, and United Airlines have adopted the service. They offer high-speed and low-latency internet, often even given for free to passengers, especially on medium and long-distance routes.

Starlink relies on a constellation of low-Earth orbit satellites that enable stable global coverage, including in remote and cross-ocean areas. The technology is seen as a major breakthrough for entertainment, productivity, and communication during flight.

The feud between Musk and O'Leary reflects a wider tension in the aviation industry: a clash between cutting-edge technological innovation and the extreme cost discipline that is the DNA of low-cost airlines. While Starlink promises a revolution in the flying experience, Ryanair still chooses to keep fares as low as possible rather than adding facilities.

As more airlines adopt the technology, the debate over the cost-benefit ratio for short-haul flights is expected to continue to shape the direction of global aviation industry strategies.