(Jan 21): Ryanair Holdings Plc’s chief executive officer said his online sparring with Elon Musk this past week has been good for business.

Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary has thanked Elon Musk for all the additional publicity that their online spat has brought his airline, saying sales have risen two to three percent in the last five days.

The budget airline on Tuesday branded the Tesla chief executive an "idiot", and used the extraordinary row to promote its January sale.