A Kuwaiti plane lands at Khartoum Airport on the first international flight after a three-year hiatus.
A Kuwait Airways plane landed at Khartoum International Airport on Tuesday, marking the first direct international flight after a three-year suspension since the outbreak of war on April 15, 2023.
The plane, arriving from Kuwait, carried more than 300 Sudanese citizens returning home, according to the Sudan News Agency (SUNA).
SUNA quoted Abdul Rahman Sayed Ahmed Zain Al-Abidin, Secretary-General of the Sudanese Working Abroad Secretariat, as saying that the plane’s landing represents an important step towards resuming international flights and strengthening the state’s efforts to care for its citizens abroad.
He explained that receiving this flight reflects Khartoum Airport’s readiness for the return of international air traffic and embodies the strength of bilateral relations between Sudan and Kuwait.
He expressed his appreciation to Kuwait, its leadership, government, and people, and to Kuwait Airways for their role in facilitating the return of Sudanese citizens.
Zain al-Abidin pointed out that this step paves the way for the opening of a direct and regular air route between Khartoum and Kuwait, especially given the increasing number of Sudanese working there. He explained that this will contribute to revitalizing Sudanese exports, particularly agricultural products and livestock, thus supporting the national economy and strengthening trade between the two countries.
For his part, the acting director of Khartoum Airport, Hassan al-Hadi, considered the arrival of the first international flight from Kuwait “an important step towards the resumption of international air traffic,” confirming the airport’s readiness to receive international flights after fulfilling safety requirements and obtaining the necessary licenses.
On February 1st, the first domestic flight operated by Sudan Airways landed at Khartoum International Airport since operations at the airport ceased with the outbreak of war on April 15, 2023.
The closure of Khartoum International Airport led to a significant paralysis of air traffic and travel in the country, due to its unique central location within Sudan and its large capacity.