Khartoum sees its 2nd commercial flight since Sudan’s war began in 2023
February 2, 2026
A Sudan Airways passenger flight landed in Khartoum, marking only the second commercial arrival at the airport since Sudan’s war began in 2023. The domestic service from Port Sudan marks a rare moment of restored connectivity for a capital whose international airport has been largely silent amid fighting and security threats.
The flight arrived at Khartoum International Airport on Sunday, 1 February, according to Sudanese state media, in what officials are portraying as a tentative sign of normalcy returning to the war-torn capital.
This is only the second commercial landing since the fighting began nearly three years ago.
Khartoum sees 2nd commercial service since April 2023
Sudan’s war began in April 2023, triggered by a power struggle between the country’s military leadership and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) — a conflict that has devastated Khartoum and fractured transport links nationwide.
Since then, commercial passenger operations at Khartoum International Airport have been severely hampered by fighting and damaged infrastructure, raising major safety and security concerns for aviation activity in and around the capital.
Before fighting erupted in April 2023, Khartoum International Airport handled several million passengers annually, with pre-war throughput peaking at around 3.6 million in 2017.
Sunday’s Sudan Airways arrival follows a prior landing by private carrier Badr Airlines in October 2025.
Why the October 2025 flight didn’t restart normal service
The October 2025 arrival by Badr Airlines was closely watched because it came after Khartoum airport had been effectively out of passenger service for over two years.
However, the airport’s reopening efforts were disrupted by drone attacks and security threats from RSF. Any attempt to restart scheduled service at the airport has remained fragile, with no sustained return of commercial flights until Sudan Airways’ landing on Sunday.
Port Sudan remains Sudan’s main operating gateway
Since the start of the war, Sudan’s aviation system has relied on Port Sudan, the Red Sea city that has served as a key logistical and political hub while Khartoum has remained unstable.
Port Sudan Airport currently handles only a small number of scheduled commercial flights, around a dozen flights a day, according to FlightAware data.
🇸🇩 ✈️ | Great joy in Sudan’s capital as the first scheduled flight arrives from Port Sudan in eastern Sudan to Khartoum International Airport after a three-year suspension caused by the UAE 🇦🇪-backed RSF militia’s destabilization.
— Salman Al-Ansari | سلمان الأنصاري (@Salansar1) February 2, 2026
Congratulations to all Sudanese 💚✌️ pic.twitter.com/jGZuGIFW9L
The Sudan Airways flight operated domestically from Port Sudan to Khartoum is an effort to re-establish links between the country’s most functional aviation lifeline during the war, and the Sudanese capital, 671 kilometres (417 miles) away.
The key transport route connecting the cities by road remains extremely dangerous, with high risks of armed conflict, disruption at militia checkpoints, and potential carjacking or airstrikes.
Sudan Airways’ limited flight operations
Sudan Airways resumed limited operations in January after a six-month pause, with flights currently centred on a small Port Sudan-based schedule, operated using the airline’s single Airbus A320-200.
According to AeroRoutes schedule data, Sudan Airways is operating:
- Port Sudan – Cairo: Daily (≈ 7 flights/week)
- Port Sudan – Jeddah: 4 flights/week
- Port Sudan – Riyadh: 3 flights/week (dropping to 2/week from 16 Feb 2026)
A second attempt to restore air service in a country still at war
While aviation officials and state media framed the arrival as a step forward, the broader situation in Sudan remains dire.
The war has killed more than 40,000 people according to UN figures, though humanitarian organisations say the toll might be significantly higher. Roughly 14 million Sudanese people were displaced, and some parts of the country have suffered from disease outbreaks and famine.
Significant moment! 🇸🇩
— AlMigdad Hassan (@AlMigdadHassan0) February 1, 2026
The first Sudan Airways flight from Port Sudan has landed in Khartoum with 160 passengers.
Just 10 months ago, this airport was a battlefield and in ruins. Today, it marks hope and a step toward recovery of the capital. pic.twitter.com/Jm1Udqgj7X
Sunday’s Sudan Airways landing is less a sign of recovery and more a reminder of how difficult it has been to restore basic infrastructure amid ongoing warfare.
For now, the Sudan Airways arrival stands out for what it represents: the return of a commercial passenger aircraft to Khartoum. Unlike during the previous Badr Airlines landing, no airport interference by RSF was reported, which is a positive sign.
The question is whether this second flight could mark the start of more regular air service—or will be another isolated moment in a conflict that continues to disrupt daily life, infrastructure, and mobility across the country.
Featured Image: Michel Gilliand | Wikimedia Commons
