Budget airline Ryanair has firmly rejected plans to install Elon Musk's Starlink satellite Wi-Fi across its fleet, citing significant extra fuel costs as the primary reason. The decision, announced on Wednesday 14 January 2026, places the Irish carrier at odds with a growing number of rivals who are embracing the high-speed internet technology.
The Fuel Penalty Argument
Ryanair's outspoken CEO, Michael O'Leary, explained the rationale to Reuters. He stated that fitting the necessary antenna to an aircraft's fuselage increases weight and aerodynamic drag. This, he claimed, results in a "two per cent fuel penalty" – a cost the airline is unwilling to bear on its typically short-haul routes.
"We don't think our passengers are willing to pay for wifi for an average one-hour flight," O'Leary added. Ryanair, which operates thousands of short and mid-haul flights across Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, currently offers no in-flight internet service to its customers.
SpaceX Hits Back at Ryanair's Claims
The statement from Ryanair's boss prompted a swift rebuttal from SpaceX, the company behind Starlink. Michael Nicolls, Vice President of Starlink Engineering, responded on social media platform X. He argued that "a two per cent fuel impact might be true for legacy terminals, but Starlink’s terminal is much lower profile and more efficient."
Elon Musk himself also weighed in, simply stating that O'Leary was "being misinformed." This public disagreement highlights the tension between the budget airline's cost-focused model and the tech firm's promotion of its advanced hardware.
Buckling the Industry Trend
Ryanair's stance is a notable exception in the commercial aviation sector. On Tuesday 13 January 2026, German rival Lufthansa announced a deal to install Starlink on its fleet. They join several other major carriers already using the technology, including:
- British Airways
- Qatar Airways
- United Airlines
Most airlines adopting the satellite service offer it to passengers for free as a complimentary amenity, using it as a product differentiator. However, analysts suggest this is not a priority for Ryanair. According to experts at One Mile At A Time, the airline's model is "to compete on schedule and price, and not on product." They concluded that Ryanair "doesn't need Starlink, at least not for the foreseeable future."
The Independent has contacted Ryanair for further comment on the matter.
