Khartoum International Airport has officially resumed operations, receiving its second commercial flight since the war in Sudan broke out in April 2023.
The airport’s reopening marks a major milestone in the government’s efforts to restore vital infrastructure and normalize life in the Sudanese capital.
First Scheduled Flight
On Sunday, the Khartoum International Airport received the first scheduled domestic flight by the country’s national carrier, Sudan Airways (SudanAir), reported the state-run Sudan News Agency (SUNA).
The flight took off from Port Sudan, the capital of the Red Sea state which served as the interim headquarters of the government since the start of the war until the government moved back to Khartoum in early 2026.
على متن "سودانير".. رئيس الوزراء يتوجه إلى مدينة بورتسودان#سونا #السودان pic.twitter.com/cEBj3N4HiE
— SUDAN News Agency (SUNA) 🇸🇩 (@SUNA_AGENCY) February 1, 2026
The flight marks the second commercial one arriving in Khartoum since a flight operated by the privately-owned Badr Airlines landed at Khartoum International Airport in October 2025.
Back then, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) targeted the airport with drones to prevent the government from reopening the facility, according to the Associated Press (AP).
Celebrating SudanAir Flight
In celebration of resuming operations, the Director of Khartoum Airport expressed pleasure about the commencement of operations at the airport, calling the flight a “primary launchpad.”
He noted that the airport now has the capacity to accommodate four aircraft simultaneously, saying that officials at the airport are equipped with all necessary machinery and equipment to secure the airport, according to SUNA.
Moreover, the Sudanese Prime Minister, Kamil Idris, was aboard the flight. Before departing Port Sudan, he announced that the flight marks the official reopening of Khartoum International Airport.
He expressed optimism that SudanAir will restore its prestigious status and high-quality services. He also announced that the renowned Heathrow route is now under the management of Sudan Airways.
Recapturing Khartoum
The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) regained full control over the capital, Khartoum, in March 2025, in a significant victory against the RSF. The Khartoum Airport was scheduled to resume domestic flights in October 2025, but RSF drones disrupted its reopening.
In January 2026, the Sudanese government officially returned to Khartoum, after relocating to Port Sudan for around three years. According to the latest data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), more than 1.3 million people returned to Khartoum state.
However, humanitarian organizations have warned of the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Khartoum, amid severe food shortages and worsening healthcare services. In light of this, the Sudanese government has intensified efforts to improve healthcare, education, electricity, water and sanitation services, promising to strengthen security and enhance economic development.
Sudan Crisis
The war in Sudan has triggered the world’s largest humanitarian and displacement crisis, killing thousands and displacing over 15 million people within Sudan and across neighboring countries. It has also pushed parts of the country into famine amid cholera outbreaks.
Furthermore, the war has driven the country toward effective partition. Currently, the SAF controls 13 out of Sudan’s 18 states, consolidating its grip on Sudan’s south, north, east and center, including the capital Khartoum.
On the other hand, the RSF holds all five states of the Darfur region in the west, except for some northern parts of North Darfur that remain under the SAF control.
