Khartoum Airport Reopens for Domestic Flights Amid Drone Attacks

(KHARTOUM, SUDAN) Khartoum International Airport reopened for domestic flights on October 22, 2025, only to face fresh danger from early‑morning drone strikes that rattled the capital and underscored how fragile Sudan’s air links remain amid a grinding civil war. A Badr Airlines passenger plane from Port Sudan made the first civilian landing in more than two years, marking a symbolic return to limited air travel after a 30‑month shutdown triggered by fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Hours before the runway comeback, residents reported at least eight explosions near the airport. The SAF said air defenses intercepted several drones, but some hit targets, spreading fear across nearby neighborhoods and raising questions about whether regular flights can continue. RSF leader Mohammad Hamdan Dagalo (known as Hemedti) threatened in a video to target “any airplane that takes off from any neighboring country, any airplane that is dropping supplies, bombing or killing, any drone that takes off from any airport,” saying such aircraft would be “a legitimate target.”

General Abdel‑Fattah Burhan, head of the Sovereignty Council, toured the airport ahead of the reopening and pledged to protect civilians from RSF attacks. Officials framed the restart as part of a broader push to rebuild state functions in the capital, invite government ministries to return, and reestablish essential links for local travelers, aid logistics, and trade. The Sudan Civil Aviation Authority said domestic flights would resume after completing safety and operational checks, though it did not specify how many carriers would operate given ongoing security risks.

Airport reopening amid active threats

The immediate danger to Khartoum International Airport from drone strikes highlights the limits of a single reopening without improved airspace security.

• The RSF had held the airport for a long stretch of the war until the SAF recaptured it in March 2025.
• That shift allowed authorities to repair infrastructure and restore basic operations, but the airfield remains within reach of hostile drones and artillery.
• Pilots must consider both flight safety and ground threats during takeoff and landing.

Authorities emphasized the restart covers domestic routes only. International flights remain suspended from Khartoum, forcing carriers such as Turkish Airlines, Egyptair, and Ethiopian Airlines to keep operating out of Port Sudan instead. That diversion has:

• Complicated access for travelers, aid workers, and families trying to reunite.
• Pushed more traffic through coastal facilities not designed for the capital’s long‑haul demand.
• Added cost and time to already difficult journeys in and out of the country.

Humanitarian groups hoped the airport’s reopening would speed relief shipments and medevacs. Even a small increase in local flights can help aid teams move staff between hubs, deliver medicine to hospitals, and reconnect displaced families with relatives in safer areas. But logistics planners worry that repeated drone strikes could force last‑minute cancellations, strand passengers, and disrupt fragile supply chains that rely on predictable schedules.

Important: Repeated attacks could quickly erase the logistical gains from reopening by causing cancellations, stranding passengers, and disrupting aid deliveries.

Implications for travel, aid, and consular services

For Sudanese civilians, the return of limited flights offers a lifeline after months of closed roads, blockades, and costly detours. Many households have split across cities as conflict lines shifted, and a functioning airport — even for domestic use — can ease internal movement for urgent health care, school admissions, and job needs.

Travelers should expect:

• Elevated security checks
• Possible curfews
• Abrupt schedule changes if nearby attacks continue

Diplomatic missions will likely proceed with caution. Consulates and embassies that scaled back or moved staff may not rush to use Khartoum International Airport until attacks subside and ground security holds. Some will continue routing personnel through alternative corridors or regional hubs.

The United States continues to advise against travel to Sudan; see the U.S. Department of State travel advisory for Sudan for current guidance. This official guidance shapes how aid groups, journalists, and foreign nationals plan movements, insurance coverage, and emergency evacuations.

Airlines will weigh risks carefully. Considerations include:

• High insurer premiums for war‑zone operations
• Need for assurances about runway conditions, radar coverage, and deconfliction with military flights
• Requirement for layered defenses (radar, counter‑drone systems, secure ground transport) before scaling service, per analysis by VisaVerge.com

Without consistent protection from drone strikes, carriers could suspend routes again, limiting the benefits of reopening for families and relief operations.

Humanitarian stakes and scale of need

The civil war’s toll underscores urgency:

• At least 40,000 people killed
• Up to 12 million displaced
• More than 24 million facing acute food insecurity

For many, reliable domestic flights are essential for:

• Reaching treatment centers
• Moving from frontline areas to safer towns
• Reconnecting children with caregivers

Aid groups stress that consistent access to the capital can speed permits, streamline procurement, and reduce time trucks spend waiting at checkpoints.

Background on repairs and next steps

After the SAF recaptured the airport earlier in 2025, repairs focused on runways and terminals damaged by weapons and looting. Engineers prioritized restoring power, communications, and basic safety systems to meet domestic standards.

The civil aviation authority says technical and operational procedures are in place, but the number of flights will likely stay modest until:

1. The security picture improves
2. Crews complete more extensive inspections
3. Air defenses consistently deter or defeat incoming drones

Operational stability depends on several factors:

• Consistent air defense coverage
• Rapid damage assessments after attacks
• Clear communication with airlines about risks
• Credible penalties for attacks on civilian infrastructure

Without these measures, timetables will be unreliable, insurance will stay expensive, and ordinary passengers may not be able to absorb higher fares.

Possible phased return of carriers

International carriers continue to monitor developments. A potential staged return could follow this sequence:

1. Ferry flights to reposition aircraft and crews
2. Limited passenger service on selected domestic routes
3. Gradual expansion if attacks taper off and security assurances hold

Even optimistic scenarios require a sustained drop in threats, secure approach and departure corridors, and proof that aircraft can taxi, park, and refuel without coming under fire.

Practical outlook for civilians and aid operations

Khartoum International Airport now functions both as a transport node and a test of public confidence. Each successful departure or landing can encourage displaced families and small businesses to plan trips; each attack can undo that fragile trust.

• Travel agents in Port Sudan report customers are hesitant and often prefer to wait several weeks to see if flights continue without incident.
• Aid planners say predictable schedules are crucial for medical evacuations and supply chain reliability.

The next few weeks will be decisive: the reopening may remain a glimpse of normal life that grows into reliable service — or it may slip back into silence under the shadow of war.