First domestic flight lands in Sudan's capital Khartoum since war began
Khartoum, Sudan — A domestic passenger flight landed at Khartoum International Airport on Wednesday for the first time since Sudan’s devastating civil conflict erupted more than two years ago, signaling a fragile attempt to restore normalcy in the war-torn capital. The Badr Airlines flight, which took off from Port Sudan, carried several government officials and journalists. Sudan’s Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism confirmed the landing, describing it as “a significant step toward reconnecting the nation.”
According to Africanews, the aircraft touched down without incident at around 11:00 a.m. local time, marking the first civilian flight to reach Khartoum since April 2023, when clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) forced the closure of the capital’s main airport. Khartoum International Airport was one of the first flashpoints when fighting broke out in 2023, leading to its shutdown and severe infrastructural damage.
In March 2025, the Sudanese army announced that it had recaptured the airport after nearly two years under RSF control. The military has since been working to restore minimal operations, though regular civilian flights had not resumed until now. A statement from the Civil Aviation Authority said the successful landing demonstrates that the airport’s southern runway and control systems “are now safe for limited domestic use.” However, the resumption of flights comes amid renewed instability.
According to Reuters, RSF forces launched drone attacks around Khartoum and Omdurman early Tuesday and Wednesday — just hours before the Badr Airlines flight’s arrival. The Sudanese army responded with anti-aircraft fire, raising fresh concerns about the airport’s safety and the risk of renewed clashes. Military spokesperson Brig. Nabil Abdallah acknowledged the tension but insisted that the army “remains in full control of Khartoum airport and will ensure the safety of all flight operations.”
Analysts describe the event as more symbolic than operational, reflecting the government’s determination to show progress amid continuing conflict. Humanitarian experts say even limited flight resumption could prove critical for aid delivery, medical evacuation, and restoring communications between eastern Sudan and the capital. Africanews reports that aid organizations, including the World Food Programme, are closely monitoring the reopening as they consider possible humanitarian corridors.
For now, only domestic flights operated by Badr Airlines are permitted to use the runway, with international flights still suspended pending a comprehensive safety review.
Since April 2023, Sudan’s war between the SAF, led by Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the RSF, commanded by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), has killed over 15,000 people and displaced more than 8 million, according to United Nations estimates.
The conflict has devastated infrastructure, paralyzed commerce, and left millions at risk of famine.
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