(MENAFN) Khartoum International Airport welcomed its first civilian passenger flight on Wednesday, bringing an end to a closure that lasted for two and a half years, according to Sudanese officials.

“The Badr Airlines flight landed moments ago at Khartoum International Airport, marking the airport’s reopening and the gradual return of air operations from the capital after a long suspension,” the airport authority announced in a statement on the social media platform Facebook.

The reopening was described as “an important step toward the recovery of Sudan’s aviation sector and the gradual resumption of air traffic,” highlighting its significance for the country’s transport infrastructure.

This event occurred just hours after Sudanese air defenses intercepted a drone strike launched by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), targeting the capital early Wednesday morning. This was the second attack of its kind within a 24-hour period.

The airport had remained closed for 921 days following the outbreak of conflict between the army and the RSF in April 2023.

On Monday night, the Civil Aviation Authority had announced intentions to reopen the airport on Wednesday. However, a subsequent drone strike near the facility raised fresh safety concerns.

The prolonged closure of Khartoum International Airport, a key aviation center located in Sudan’s capital, had effectively halted the majority of the country’s air traffic during this period.

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