Ryanair reported an increase in bookings after altercation with Elon Musk
The head of the low-cost carrier thanked Musk for stimulating sales
Ryanair recorded an increase in bookings after an exchange of barbs between the company's chief executive and Elon Musk / Photo: John Gress Media Inc / Shutterstock.com
The head of Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair Michael O'Leary said that his public controversy with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk on social media had a positive impact on the company's operating results. O'Leary is known for his outspokenness and has repeatedly provoked scandals for the sake of sales growth.
Details
Ryanair bookings are up 2-3% after the exchange of barbs with Musk. O'Leary told a press conference in Dublin. The top executive said he was "happy to continue the controversy": "If it drives Ryanair sales, you can insult me all day long." He added that the purpose of the speech was to "expose Musk's Twitter tantrum" and thanked his opponent, noting that any scandals help business, Bloomberg reports.
Ryanair shares rose 2.1 percent on the Dublin exchange on Jan. 21, while depositary receipts in New York traded up 1.4 percent on the premarket.
How O'Leary and Musk got into a fight.
The altercation began on January 14, when Ryanair's CEO refused to install SpaceX's Starlink satellite terminals on the company's planes. O'Leary argued that the antennas would increase the weight of the airliner, air resistance and ultimately fuel costs.
Elon Musk called O'Leary a "complete idiot" and posted a poll on social network X on whether he should buy Ryanair. The airline CEO parried by calling his opponent a "very rich idiot" and then launched a ticket sale playing off the insult.
Context
O'Leary has long used scandal and egregiousness to draw attention to Ryanair. He has called the European Commission an "evil empire," insulted Irish teachers and even his own passengers who complained about fines for unopened boarding passes.
This article was AI-translated and verified by a human editor
