• Khartoum International Airport handled its first commercial passenger flight after nearly three years of closure caused by the war.

• Sudan Airways operated the inaugural flight from Port Sudan as the government returned to the capital.

• Authorities have not yet announced a timeline for the resumption of international flights.

After almost three years of suspension due to the war in Sudan, a first commercial passenger flight landed on Sunday, February 1, at Khartoum International Airport. Sudan Airways operated the flight from Port Sudan, the country’s eastern coastal city that remained largely spared from fighting.

This reopening comes as the army-backed government returned to Khartoum after three years of operating from Port Sudan. Authorities announced rehabilitation works to repair airport facilities and equipment damaged during the conflict in order to enable the resumption of air traffic.

The airport reopening forms part of broader initiatives designed to facilitate the return of displaced populations. These measures include the recent resumption of river transport links between Sudan and Egypt, which hosted a large share of Sudanese displaced by the conflict.

Before the war, Khartoum International Airport served as the country’s main aviation hub and handled international connections. According to the African Airlines Association (AFRAA), the airport processed up to 3.5 million passengers in 2017. However, authorities have not yet provided details on when international flights will resume, even as domestic services restart.

This article was initially published in French by Henoc Dossa

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de BERRY QUENUM