RIO DE JANEIRO (MNN); The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has advised Middle Eastern airlines against delaying aircraft orders due to the ongoing conflict involving Iran, warning that such decisions could prove costly in the long run.
Speaking on the sidelines of IATA’s annual summit in Rio de Janeiro, Kamil Al-Awadhi, IATA’s Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East, said he does not expect the war or rising operational costs to significantly affect aircraft procurement plans by airlines in the region.
Middle Eastern carriers remain among the largest customers of aircraft manufacturers Boeing and Airbus, and Al-Awadhi stressed that postponing deliveries would not be a prudent strategy.
He noted that long waiting periods for new aircraft, particularly Airbus’s latest-generation single-aisle jets, mean that any delay in orders could result in airlines waiting years longer to receive aircraft needed for future expansion.
“Deferring aircraft orders is not wise because such delays ultimately come at a cost,” Al-Awadhi said, adding that airlines should remain focused on their long-term growth strategies despite current challenges.
He described the ongoing conflict and its economic impact as a temporary setback and expressed confidence that regional airlines would continue with their planned fleet expansion programmes.
The aviation industry is facing increasing pressure from rising jet fuel prices linked to regional instability. Airlines worldwide have responded by reducing flight frequencies and increasing ticket prices and service charges to offset higher operating costs.
The conflict has also affected aviation infrastructure in parts of the Middle East. Al-Awadhi expressed concern over damage caused to an airport terminal in Kuwait following a recent attack that reportedly killed one person.
According to him, the damaged facility is widely used by foreign airlines operating in Kuwait, and repairs could take a considerable amount of time.
Based on the extent of damage seen in videos and photographs, he estimated that restoration work could take at least a year to complete.
Al-Awadhi warned that the disruption could create operational challenges for international carriers serving Kuwait and raised concerns about their ability to continue operating efficiently.
To address the situation, he suggested that Kuwaiti authorities either accelerate the completion of sections of a new airport terminal currently under construction or allow foreign airlines to temporarily use terminals presently allocated to domestic carriers, including Kuwait Airways.
Despite ongoing geopolitical tensions and rising costs, IATA remains optimistic that airlines in the Middle East will continue investing in fleet modernisation and long-term growth plans rather than scaling back future aircraft acquisitions.
