Khartoum Airport Reopens for Scheduled Flights After Two-Year War Hiatus
KHARTOUM – For the first time in over two years, a scheduled commercial aircraft landed at Khartoum International Airport on Sunday, a symbolic move by the Sudanese military-led government as it seeks to reestablish normalcy in the war-torn capital.
The Sudan Airways flight, carrying dozens of passengers from the Red Sea port city of Port Sudan, was met with celebrations on the tarmac. The government has promoted the reopening as a sign of restored stability after declaring full control of Khartoum from the rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group last March.
"This reflects the return of spirit and the continuation of the connection between the sons of the nation," the airline said in a statement announcing the $50-and-up tickets a day prior. Officials stated the airport is now prepared to handle up to four daily flights, reconnecting the capital to other regions.
Background & Analysis: The resumption of limited air traffic follows the recent relocation of the government's headquarters back to Khartoum from Port Sudan, which had served as a de facto administrative and air travel hub since the war erupted in April 2023. The conflict, rooted in a power struggle between military chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan "Hemedti" Dagalo, has devastated infrastructure, displaced millions, and triggered a severe humanitarian crisis, particularly in Darfur.
Khartoum's airport itself has been a repeated target, including a claimed drone attack by the RSF in October. While a single unannounced Badr Airlines flight landed in late October, Sunday's operation marks the first scheduled service since hostilities began.
Expert & Public Reaction:
Ahmed Mansour, Political Analyst in Cairo: "This is a logistical and symbolic victory for the army-aligned government. However, it's a fragile one. Reopening the airport doesn't equate to peace or security for most Sudanese. The fighting continues unabated in vast areas of the country."
Sarah El-Tayeb, Humanitarian Worker (Recently Evacuated from Khartoum): "Seeing that plane land brought me to tears—it's a flicker of hope. But my family in Darfur hasn't had clean water in a week. We must not mistake one flight for the end of this nightmare. The world's attention has moved on, but our suffering has not."
James O. Fletcher, Former Diplomat: "This reopening is a tactical move to bolster the government's legitimacy and facilitate its operations. The critical test will be whether commercial carriers beyond Sudan Airways deem the route safe and sustainable amid ongoing volatility."
Khalid Ibrahim, Engineer in Port Sudan (Commenting via Social Media): "A propaganda flight while bombs fall elsewhere? This is a disgraceful attempt to paint over ruins with a fresh coat of paint. The regime is celebrating a runway while millions are starving on runways of their own, fleeing for their lives."
The UN continues to warn of extreme humanitarian access challenges. "Nothing about this crisis is simple: every movement is hard-won, every delivery fragile," stated a UNICEF spokesperson last week, highlighting the stark contrast between symbolic reopenings and the grinding reality on the ground for most Sudanese.