Why Elon Musk Should Buy Ryanair

Live and Let's Fly • January 18, 2026 • business

Key Points:

Ryanair is one of the most profitable and operationally efficient airlines globally, serving over 180 million passengers annually and ranking as the largest airline in Europe by passenger traffic.
Elon Musk, with his substantial capital and experience in efficiency-driven businesses, could find Ryanair an attractive investment, potentially acquiring the airline for around 4.5-5% of his net worth.
Ryanair's ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) model aligns with Musk’s focus on operational efficiency, and his expertise could further enhance profitability through digital innovation and data-driven optimization.
The US ULCC market is currently unstable, with struggling carriers like Spirit and Frontier; Musk could leverage Ryanair’s success to enter and disrupt this market, possibly acquiring