Airport Reopening Follows Military Control
The reopening represents a crucial step in normalizing life after the Sudanese military regained control of the capital from the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group in March 2025. Last month, authorities moved the government headquarters back to Khartoum from Port Sudan.
Sir Al-Khatim Babiker Al-Tayeb, director general of the Sudan Airports Company, said the facility can handle up to four aircraft simultaneously. Officials indicated the airport can accommodate four flights daily as operations expand.
Security Challenges Delayed Operations
Sunday’s flight was the second commercial arrival since conflict began. Badr Airlines landed a non-scheduled flight in October 2025, but RSF drone attacks targeting the airport disrupted reopening efforts. No further commercial operations resumed until Sunday.
Khartoum International Airport sustained severe damage when fighting erupted between the military and RSF in April 2023. The facility previously served as Sudan’s main aviation hub.
Ongoing Humanitarian Crisis
The conflict began when military leader Gen. Abdel-Fattah al-Burhan and RSF chief Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo clashed over power and resources in April 2023. The war has killed more than 40,000 people, according to United Nations figures, though aid groups believe the true toll is significantly higher. The airport was among the first locations attacked when fighting erupted.
The fighting created the world’s largest displacement crisis, forcing over 14 million people from their homes. Violence continues in western Sudan, particularly Darfur, triggering mass displacement, widespread disease outbreaks and famine in some areas. The humanitarian situation remains dire across multiple regions.
Port Sudan International Airport remains the only operational hub for international flights. Several domestic airports operate on a limited basis. Officials said technical and administrative preparations are underway to eventually restore regional and international flights to Khartoum.
