A domestic passenger flight landed at Khartoum International Airport for the first time since Sudan’s civil war erupted more than two years ago, marking a significant moment that could signal the gradual reopening of the country’s airspace.
The Sudanese Ministry of Media and Culture confirmed that a Badr Airlines flight from Port Sudan safely touched down in the capital on Wednesday morning.
The landing comes months after the Sudanese army regained control of the Khartoum airport from the rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which had seized it early in the conflict.
The resumption of flights is being viewed as a symbolic milestone in efforts to restore a sense of normalcy in the war-torn country.
Officials said the airport has undergone extensive repairs and security upgrades to ensure safe operations after suffering heavy damage during months of fighting.
General Abdel Fattah Burhan, the head of Sudan’s ruling military council, visited the airport on Tuesday ahead of its reopening and pledged to safeguard citizens and infrastructure from further RSF attacks.
Burhan praised the resumption of flights as a sign that “Sudan’s sovereignty remains intact” and that “the nation is on the path toward recovery.”
The Sudan Civil Aviation Authority announced earlier this week that domestic flights would resume after completing all operational and technical inspections.
“This reopening marks an important step toward re-establishing internal connectivity and rebuilding public confidence in Sudan’s transport system,” the authority said in a statement carried by Sudan News Agency.
However, the fragile security situation remains a concern. On Tuesday, just hours before the first flight’s arrival, the RSF launched a drone attack targeting the airport.
According to the Sudanese army, air defense units successfully intercepted the drones, preventing casualties and damage to runways or facilities.
RSF leader Mohammad Hamdan Daglo, commonly known as Hemedti, later released a video threatening to continue targeting the airport and any aircraft he accused of aiding the army.
“Any airplane that takes off from a neighboring country, any plane dropping supplies or attacking us, will be a legitimate target,” Hemedti warned in his address.
The statement underscores the ongoing volatility in Sudan, where both sides continue to trade fire across multiple fronts.
The war, which began in April 2023, has devastated Sudan’s economy, displaced millions, and triggered one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
According to the World Health Organization, at least 40,000 people have been killed, while the United Nations reports that nearly 12 million have been forced to flee their homes.
The conflict has also plunged much of the population into severe hunger, with more than 24 million people facing acute food insecurity.
Despite the grim statistics, the reopening of Khartoum International Airport offers a rare glimpse of progress amid chaos.
For months, the airport had served only limited military operations and humanitarian airlifts under strict security.
Sudanese authorities say domestic flights will initially be limited to key routes such as Port Sudan, El Obeid, and Dongola, before expanding gradually to other cities.
Airlines operating in Sudan have welcomed the move but called for guarantees of safety before fully resuming schedules.
A Badr Airlines official said the company was “proud to be the first carrier to reconnect Khartoum with the rest of the country,” adding that “the return of commercial aviation is a sign of hope for Sudanese citizens.”
Analysts say the reopening of the capital’s airport could help boost trade and humanitarian logistics, which have been severely disrupted since the outbreak of war.
However, international observers caution that unless a permanent ceasefire is reached between the army and the RSF, gains like these could be short-lived.
For now, the people of Sudan are watching cautiously, hopeful that this small victory in the skies above Khartoum may someday lead to peace on the ground.
