Khartoum Airport Welcomes Second Commercial Flight Amid Lingering Conflict
KHARTOUM, Sudan — In a tentative sign of fragile progress, a Sudan Airways passenger plane landed at Khartoum International Airport on Sunday, becoming just the second commercial flight to reach the capital since civil war tore the nation apart in April 2023.
The state-run SUNA news agency confirmed the domestic service departed from Port Sudan on the Red Sea coast—which had hosted government functions temporarily—and arrived in Khartoum Sunday afternoon. The landing follows a months-long effort by authorities to rehabilitate the airport, a key infrastructure asset severely damaged in the war’s early weeks.
"The reopening is a psychological and logistical milestone," said regional analyst Anwar Farid, speaking from Nairobi. "It’s a signal the government is trying to reassert control, but the runway to full recovery remains extremely long and hazardous."
Sunday’s flight comes nearly a year after a single Badr Airlines service landed in October 2023, an event met immediately by drone attacks from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The military has since reclaimed the capital, but fierce fighting continues across Sudan, displacing over 14 million people and creating what the UN calls the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
The conflict, rooted in a power struggle between the army and the RSF, has killed tens of thousands—aid agencies estimate the true death toll far exceeds the 40,000 reported by the UN—and has pushed several regions to the brink of famine.
Voices from the Ground:
"My sister was on that flight. After two years of being trapped in Port Sudan, she’s finally home. This isn’t just a flight; it’s a thread of hope." — Mona Hassan, teacher in Khartoum.
"A propaganda stunt. One flight doesn’t end a war. While they celebrate a plane landing, millions are starving, and the RSF still controls half the country. This is a distraction from failure." — Khalid Mansour, engineer and activist (now displaced in Chad).
"Logistically, it’s a necessary step. Aid corridors, diplomatic movements, economic activity—all depend on air connectivity. But the security risks are immense." — Dr. Elena Moretti, humanitarian policy researcher.
"I remember Khartoum Airport bustling with international flights. Seeing a single domestic carrier return feels heartbreaking, yet it’s a start. We have to rebuild piece by piece." — James Omondi, former airline operations manager in East Africa.