Deferring jet orders due to uncertainty and higher jet fuel prices caused by the war in Iran would be unwise for Middle Eastern carriers, as the decision could be costly in the long term, Reuters reports quoting a vice president of the airline trade group IATA.

Kamil Al-Awadhi, Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East, tells reporters that he does not expect the war and higher costs to affect aircraft orders from Middle Eastern carriers. The region’s airlines are major buyers of jets from planemakers Boeing and Airbus.

Deferrals are “not wise because that deferral will cost you,” he says, citing long waiting times for aircraft.

“Given the waiting time for Airbus’ latest generation of single-aisle planes, it would take years for operators to get their planes,” Al-Awadhi says. “The plan is to continue where we’re going … even though this is a hiccup.”