A Sudan Airways passenger aircraft landed at Khartoum International Airport on Sunday, marking the first commercial flight to reach the Sudanese capital since civil war erupted in April 2023.

The flight, arriving from Port Sudan, carried 160 passengers, including government employees and students, and symbolised a tentative step toward national recovery after years of conflict. Under heavy security, passengers disembarked onto a newly resurfaced runway surrounded by the remains of airport infrastructure damaged during fighting.

As the aircraft doors opened, scenes of emotion unfolded, with some passengers kneeling to kiss the ground while traditional ululations echoed across the airfield.

“Seeing the capital from the air after all these years felt like a dream come true,” said passenger Khougali Mohamed Abbas.

Khartoum International Airport was among the earliest and most heavily affected sites when the conflict began, suffering repeated bombardments that destroyed terminals, the control tower, and numerous aircraft. Government forces regained control of the airport in March 2025, but extensive damage has made rehabilitation a gradual and costly process.

According to Sudan’s Ministry of Transport, the conflict caused an estimated 2.7 billion United States dollars in losses to the aviation sector. While early reports suggested six aircraft were destroyed, satellite assessments by the Sanad Verification Agency indicate that approximately 50 planes were damaged or destroyed between 2023 and 2025.

State treasury estimates show that around 350 million dollars have been spent on initial rehabilitation efforts, focusing on runway repairs and the Hajj and Umrah terminal, which is currently handling all passenger operations.

“We assure citizens that the airport is fully secured and operational,” said Mohammad Jafar, Director of Aviation Security Operations. He added that authorities plan to expand services beyond the current Khartoum to Port Sudan domestic route to regional and international flights once security conditions improve.

The resumption of flights follows a period of relative calm in the capital. The Sudanese government officially relocated its headquarters from Port Sudan back to Khartoum on January 11, and the International Organization for Migration estimates that approximately 1.4 million residents have returned to the city.

Despite the symbolic significance of the first landing, officials cautioned that full recovery remains distant. Al Khatim Babiker Al Tayeb, Director General of the Sudan Airports Company, said the airport can currently accommodate only four aircraft at a time, far below its prewar capacity.

“Receiving the first commercial flight does not mean everything is back to normal,” a Civil Aviation Authority official said on condition of anonymity, pointing to the extensive damage still visible across the airport complex.