Ryanair, Europe's largest low-cost carrier, has formally ruled out equipping its fleet of more than 600 aircraft with Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet service. The decision, announced by Chief Executive Michael O'Leary, sets the budget airline apart from a growing list of global carriers that are adopting the high-speed, low-latency technology to provide 'home-like' connectivity at 35,000 feet.
In a characteristically blunt assessment delivered during an interview with Irish broadcaster Newstalk on 14 January 2026, O'Leary dismissed the commercial viability of the service for Ryanair's short-haul model. He cited concerns over increased operational costs, specifically the physical 'drag' caused by external antennas, and questioned whether passengers on average flights of just over one hour would be willing to pay for the amenity.
