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Khartoum International Airport

مطار الخرطوم الدولي

Maṭār Al-Khurṭūm Al-Duwaliyy
Khartoum(airport)-HSSS-KRT.jpg
Summary
Airport type Civil and Military (Joint)
Serves Khartoum
Location Khartoum, Sudan
Hub for Badr Airlines, Sudan Airways, Tarco Aviation
Elevation AMSL 1,265 ft / 386 m
Coordinates 15°35′22″N 32°33′11″E / 15.58944°N 32.55306°E / 15.58944; 32.55306
Website krtairport.gov.sd
Map
KRT is located in Sudan
KRT
KRT
Location in Sudan
Runway
Runway Length Surface
ft m
18/36 9,777 2,980 Asphalt
Statistics (2017)
Passengers 3,563,181
Source: Khartoum International Airport

Khartoum International Airport (IATA: KRTICAO: HSSK) (Arabic: مطار الخرطوم الدولي) is the principal airport in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan. The airport has been shut down since it was stormed and occupied on 15 April 2023 during the Battle of Khartoum.

Khartoum, Africa road tunnel
Access Road

The current airport is scheduled to be replaced by the New Khartoum International Airport in Omdourman 40 kilometres (25 mi) south of the centre of Khartoum. This is planned to have two 4,000 metres (13,000 ft) runways, a passenger terminal of 86,000 m2 (930,000 sq ft) and a 300-room international hotel. Construction is to be carried out by China Harbour Engineering Co. (CHEC). On 4 March 2021, the airport's ICAO code was changed from HSSS to HSSK.

The current airport originated as the Royal Air Force airfield Gordon's Tree. By January 1940, No. 223 Squadron RAF was located at Gordon's Tree, in the south of Khartoum. Later the area became known as El Shajjara ("The Tree"). By January 1942, No. 71 Operational Training Unit (OTU) RAF was operating from the airfield; among aircraft operated were Curtiss Tomahawks and Vickers Wellesleys. Reportedly the OTU had at one stage 50 Harvards and 20 Hurricane fighters on strength.

Sudanese independence was granted in January 1956. The last Royal Air Force flying unit reported at Khartoum was No. 8 Squadron RAF, which arrived in November 1953, and stayed until July 1956.

Airlines and destinations (suspended)

Farewell bidders at Khartoum International Airport (6540044281)
Departure Hall

Passenger

Airlines Destinations 
Afriqiyah Airways Benghazi, Tripoli–Mitiga


Badr Airlines Abu Dhabi, Addis Ababa, Amman–Queen Alia, Cairo, Damazin, Doha, Dubai–International, El Fasher, El Obeid, Geneina, Istanbul, Jeddah, Juba, Kano, Kassala, N'Djamena, Nyala, Port Sudan, Riyadh, Wau


Berniq Airways Benghazi


Cham Wings Airlines Damascus


Egyptair Cairo


Emirates Dubai–International


Eritrean Airlines Asmara, Cairo, Kano


Ethiopian Airlines Addis Ababa


flyadeal Jeddah, Riyadh


flydubai Dubai–International


flynas Abha, Dammam, Jeddah, Medina, Riyadh


Golden Wings Aviation Juba, Wau


Gulf Air Bahrain


Kenya Airways Juba, Nairobi–Jomo Kenyatta


Nova Airways Dongola, El Fasher, Juba, Merowe, Nyala, Port Sudan, Wau


Qatar Airways Doha


Royal Jordanian Amman–Queen Alia


SalamAir Muscat


Saudia Jeddah, Medina, Riyadh


Sudan Airways Addis Ababa, Asmara, Cairo, El Fasher, Geneina, Jeddah, Juba, Kano, N'Djamena, Nyala, Port Sudan, Riyadh


Syrian Air Damascus


Tarco Aviation Amman–Queen Alia, Asmara, Cairo, Dammam, Doha, Entebbe, Jeddah, Juba, Kano, N'Djamena, Riyadh


Turkish Airlines Istanbul


Yemenia Aden

Cargo

Airlines Destinations 
EgyptAir Cargo Cairo, Nairobi–Jomo Kenyatta
Emirates Sky Cargo Dubai–Al Maktoum
Ethiopian Airlines Cargo Addis Ababa, Liège
Qatar Airways Cargo Doha
SalamAir Muscat
Saudia Cargo Jeddah
Turkish Cargo Istanbul, Nairobi–Jomo Kenyatta

Khartoum Air Base

The airport hosts a major Sudanese Air Force Transport Squadron:

Police Air Wing operates rotary aircraft from the base:

Accidents and incidents

  • On 1 January 1942, Vickers Wellesley Mark I L2660 of No. 71 Operational Training Unit RAF was written off, damaged beyond repair, on take-off from Gordon's Tree.
  • On 27 August 1952, Vickers Viscount G-AHRF operated by the Ministry of Supply (United Kingdom) was damaged beyond economic repair when its starboard undercarriage collapsed on landing.
  • On 19 July 1983, Douglas C-47A N480F of Chevron Oil crashed shortly after take-off from Khartoum International Airport on a non-scheduled passenger flight. Both engines had failed, probably due to contaminated fuel. All 27 people on board survived.
  • Sudan Airways Flight 109: On 10 June 2008, an aircraft operating from Amman, Jordan, landed and went off the end of the runway. The right engine then caught fire and the fire spread rapidly. Preliminary reports stated that around 100 of the 200 passengers had been killed but this was revised to 30 dead with 184 survivors.
  • On 30 June 2008, an Ilyushin Il-76 exploded into a fireball on take-off. All 4 crew were killed.
  • On 3 October 2018, a Sudan Air Force Antonov An-32 collided with another Sudan Air Force Antonov An-30.
  • On 15 April 2023, during the Battle of Khartoum between government forces and the Rapid Support Forces in the 2023 Sudan clashes, several airliners, including a Saudia Airbus A330 Regional (HZ-AQ30) and a SkyUp Airlines Boeing 737-800 were destroyed in the fighting. There are no known casualties from both planes.
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