Sudan’s Khartoum International Airport (KRT) has received its first scheduled commercial passenger flight in more than two years, marking a major step toward restoring air travel in the country since the start of the Sudanese civil war in 2023.
The flight took place on February 1, 2026, and was operated by the national carrier Sudan Airways, using an Airbus A320-214, which. The flight transported 160 passengers from Port Sudan, a city located on the Red Sea in eastern Sudan, to Khartoum, the capital of Sudan.
Local officials and media representatives gathered at Khartoum International Airport to witness the occasion. The event gained considerable attention on social media, with images and videos shared on X showing the aircraft’s arrival and passengers disembarking after landing.
🇸🇩 ✈️ | 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
In a statement, Sudan Airways said that the flight reflects “the revival of the spirit and the continued connection between the people of the nation.”
“Congratulations to the Sudanese people on this return, and congratulations to Khartoum,” the carrier continued.
The Director of the Sudan Airports Company, Sir Al-Khatim Babiker, told local media outlet Sudan Horizon that the airport is now equipped to handle up to four scheduled flights each day and has all the necessary systems in place for safe operations.
“We reassure travelers and all Sudanese that Khartoum Airport is fully ready and safe in every aspect,” he told the publication.
Why were flights halted in Khartoum?
Scheduled flights to Khartoum were halted for two and a half years due to the ongoing conflict between Sudan’s military and the UAE-supported Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia.
In March 2025, the Sudanese military took full control of Khartoum from the RSF. After that, the government moved its headquarters back to the capital from Port Sudan, which had temporarily served as the country’s international airport during the conflict.
Khartoum International Airport was inoperable due to repeated attacks and ongoing security issues, which stopped all regular commercial flights until authorities regained control.
Before Sudan Airways’ scheduled flight, the only commercial operation to land at the airport since the conflict started was a single unannounced Badr Airlines flight in October 2025.