First Passenger Plane Lands at Khartoum Airport After 3-Year Hiatus

Today, Sunday, the first passenger plane landed at Khartoum International Airport arriving from Port Sudan in eastern Sudan. This marks the resumption of flights after a nearly three-year suspension due to the war, according to an announcement by the Civil Aviation Authority.

The Authority stated in a press release that a Sudan Airways aircraft “carrying passengers” landed at the capital’s airport on February 1, 2026, “signaling the start of actual operations at the airport following the hiatus caused by the conflict.”

Located in the heart of the Sudanese capital, the airport was targeted at the onset of the war between the Sudanese Army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), resulting in severe damage to its buildings and the immediate cessation of all air traffic.

After regaining control of Khartoum earlier last year, the restoration and reopening of the airport became a top priority for the military-led government, serving as a symbol of the return to normalcy within the territories under its control.

Badr Airlines had previously scheduled the first commercial domestic flight for October 22, 2025; however, drone attacks highlighted ongoing threats to the airport and forced a delay in the reopening.

The RSF have utilized drones to attack military and civilian infrastructure across army-controlled territories as they fight to consolidate control over the Darfur region.