Sudan: Khartoum International Airport resumes domestic flights after 30-month closure despite recent drone attacks

Khartoum International Airport resumed air traffic after more than two years, marked by the landing of a Badr Airlines flight carrying Sudan’s Sovereignty Council head, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, following recent drone attacks that had temporarily suspended operations.

The restart, confirmed on the airport’s official Facebook page, signals a key step in reviving Sudan’s aviation sector and restoring normalcy.

Khartoum airport reopens as Badr Airlines lands lands after 30-month closure

Khartoum International Airport announced a short while ago the landing of a Sudan Badr Airlines plane, coming from Port Sudan Airport and later taking off back to Port Sudan Airport, marking the resumption of air traffic from the Sudanese capital after more than two years of closure.

The airport said in a statement that the restart “represents an important step in the recovery of the Sudanese aviation sector, paving the way for the gradual return of air traffic over the next phase.

The airport also shared the news on its official Facebook page:

"A Badr Airlines aircraft landed a short while ago at Khartoum International Airport, announcing the inauguration of the airport and the resumption of air activity from the capital after a period of shutdown. This event represents an important step in the recovery of the Sudanese aviation sector and the gradual return of air traffic. " According to Masrawy, and as reported by Al Arabiya and Al Hadath citing sources, Sudan’s Sovereignty Council head, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, was on board the civilian flight. The landing follows a series of drone attacks on the airport earlier this week, including Tuesday and Wednesday, which caused extensive damage to facilities and temporarily suspended flights.

According to the official Sudan News Agency (SUNA), the Civil Aviation Authority had confirmed that Khartoum International Airport would reopen on Wednesday, 22 October 2025, marking the resumption of domestic flights after a 30-month closure caused by the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF. The reopening was seen as a vital step towards restoring mobility and economic activity in the war-torn country. Despite earlier drone strikes that threatened to derail operations, a Badr Airlines plane has now successfully landed, signalling the airport’s return to service. Local news outlet Rakoba News and Al Jazeera reported that the RSF targeted the airport with suicide drones on Tuesday, a day after a similar assault. Flames and thick smoke were seen rising inside the facility, with witnesses citing more than eight explosions between 4am and 6am (02:00–04:00 GMT).The Sudan Tribune, citing security sources, said the drones hit multiple sites within the airport perimeter, with plumes of smoke visible from several parts of the capital. A local security source told the outlet that Sudan’s military managed to shoot down several drones, though others reached their targets, sparking panic in nearby neighbourhoods.

Eyewitness accounts and official response

According to Al Jazeera, witnesses reported hearing drones over central and southern Khartoum early in the morning before the explosions began. A resident in Omdurman, north of the capital and home to key military facilities, told AFP that the area was also struck during the same attack wave. No group has yet claimed responsibility, but both Rakoba News and Sudan Tribune attributed the assault to the RSF, which has been engaged in a prolonged conflict with Sudan’s army since April 2023. Sudan’s de facto leader and army chief, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, visited the airport following the strikes. Quoted by Al Jazeera, al-Burhan said the military’s “duty is to ensure protection and security for all Sudanese,” adding, “Soon, no one will be able to threaten this land.”

Efforts to resume flights and restore stability

Earlier the Civil Aviation Authority, in a statement, said operations would resume “in accordance with the approved operational procedures” following rehabilitation of essential infrastructure. The authority described the reopening as confirmation of the airport’s readiness “to gradually receive flights after completing all technical and operational arrangements.” The planned restart follows the army’s March 2025 claim of having regained full control over Khartoum International Airport and key strategic areas previously held by the RSF.

Domestic flights have now resumed, while the authority indicated that international routes will be considered later, once stability and safety across the capital are fully ensured. Observers see the reopening as a symbolic step toward recovery, reflecting tentative progress in restoring public services amid continuing conflict. Analysts note that civilian aviation could play a crucial role in reviving trade and transport links across Sudan, though the renewed attacks now have heightened fears of further instability.

Conflict toll and humanitarian impact

The fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, ongoing since April 2023, has devastated the country. According to the United Nations and local authorities, the war has killed more than 20,000 people and displaced 14 to 15 million others. A separate study by US universities places the estimated death toll far higher — at around 130,000. The UN describes Sudan as one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises, with millions facing severe shortages of food, healthcare, and shelter.

The resumption of domestic flights was intended to ease supply routes and reconnect parts of the country cut off by the conflict, goals now jeopardised by the latest wave of drone attacks.

Security concerns remain

The recent airstrikes, which struck hours before the airport’s scheduled reopening, had raised doubts over the government’s ability to ensure civilian and flight safety, with local outlets describing it as “an apparent attempt to disrupt the reopening of the airport after more than two years of closure.” Nevertheless, the successful landing of a Badr Airlines flight marks a significant step in resuming domestic flights, offering a cautiously optimistic signal for the recovery of the city’s transport network and broader return to normalcy after years of conflict.