Khartoum International Airport celebrated a historic milestone on Sunday, February 1, 2026, by welcoming its first commercial passenger flight after a nearly three-year hiatus.
The flight, operated by the national carrier Sudan Airways, arrived from Port Sudan carrying 160 passengers. According to Mohamed Jaafar Hassan, the director of aviation security operations, this arrival marks the official start of a phased reopening for the country’s primary aviation hub, which has been dormant since the outbreak of civil war in April 2023.
The Director General of the Sudan Airports Corporation, Sir Al-Khatim Babiker Al-Tayeb, confirmed that the facility has undergone significant rehabilitation to reach its current operational status. The airport is now equipped to handle up to four aircraft simultaneously, providing sufficient capacity for the initial phase of domestic travel. This progress follows an intensive recovery effort that began after the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) regained control of Khartoum State in May 2025, allowing engineers to repair extensive damage sustained during the early clashes between the SAF and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
While this resumption is currently limited to domestic routes, authorities are finalizing the technical and administrative preparations required to relaunch regional and international services. Until those protocols are fully established, Port Sudan International Airport will continue to serve as the sole gateway for international travel in the country. Other domestic airfields are also operating on a restricted basis as part of the broader national effort to restore critical infrastructure following years of conflict that displaced millions and devastated the economy.
RNK/ac/Sf/fss/abj/APA