Michael O'Leary rules out installing Starlink internet on Ryanair planes

'We don't think our passengers are willing to pay for WiFi for an average one-hour flight'

Wed, 14 Jan, 2026 - 11:43

Julia Payne

Ryanair on Wednesday ruled out equipping its jets with Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service, citing the impact of fuel costs from drag caused by the antenna and the short length of its flights.

Rival Lufthansa on Tuesday announced a deal to install Starlink on its aircraft and Scandinavian airline SAS last year picked the provider, saying the aerodynamic drag of the system was lower than rivals.

"You need to put antenna on fuselage it comes with a 2% fuel penalty because of the weight and drag," Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary told Reuters. "We don't think our passengers are willing to pay for WiFi for an average one-hour flight."

Meanwhile Ryanair has singled out Sweden, Italy, Slovakia, and Albania as key growth targets as the airline shifts capacity from markets increasing taxes like Belgium, Mr O'Leary said. Ryanair plans to operate around 10% fewer flights from Brussels Charleroi Airport due to a new €3 passenger tax taking effect from April.

The airline, Europe's largest low-cost carrier said it will cut the number of seats from flights landing or taking off from Charleroi by 1.1m from its annual total of 10.5m. "We will keep cutting until the Belgian government ... abolishes these stupid taxes," O'Leary said.

Ryanair is due to publish results for the last three months of 2025 on January 26.

Reuters