Sudan Airways marks its 75th year of operations in 2022, making it one of the continent’s oldest airlines. Let’s take a look back at the history of Sudan’s flag carrier.
Domestic services from the country
Sudan first began considering flights in the mid-1940s to help connect the vast country internally and with its neighbors. The government chose to name the new flag carrier Sudan Airways, a name that remains unchanged even today, in February 1946.
Operations commenced the following year, in July 1947, using a fleet of four de Havilland Doves. These short-haul, piston-engined aircraft could seat up to 11 passengers. The airline’s base would be the national capital of Khartoum. The airline started with nine domestic destinations and one international one to neighboring Eritrea.
As demand surged for domestic and foreign flights, Sudan looked to acquire a large plane. This came in the form of the Douglas DC-3 in 1953, which offered up to double or triple the passenger capacity (21 to 32 seats) and included cargo room to start new revenue streams for the airline. Combined with its range of 2,400 kilometers, the airline began flying further within Africa, reaching Egypt and then launching its first long-haul route to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Modernizing the fleet
By the dawn of the 1960s, Sudan Airways had made its presence known as far as the Mediterranean Sea, with flights to Athens. With Europe now in sights, the Viscount 831 was added to the fleet to start flights to London (with a stop in Rome), a route that was nicknamed the Blue Nile.
The Blue Nile route became important for Sudan Airways, and subsequent investments were driven by Khartoum-London flights. The de Havilland Comet 4C was added in 1963, marking the carrier’s entry into the Jet Age and highlighting it as a clear early adopter. On the short- and medium-haul side, things were going equally well. Sudan Airways added the Fokker Friendships and DHC Twin Otters to maintain flights to over two dozen destinations in 1971.
By the early 2000s, Sudan Airways had switched to Boeing and Airbus operations, with the 737, 707, and A300 taking center stage. The carrier had moved to focus on profitable international routers, with select domestic cities for connectivity. In 2007, the carrier was privatized, but this was short-lived, and it became state-owned again in 2011.
Struggling today
Political tumult, sanctions, and safety concerns saw the flag carrier blacklisted from flying to the EU in 2010. This cut off a major revenue source for the airline and has left it today with only 3-4 aircraft. Currently, the fleet comprises a 737-300, A320-200, and a 30-year-old Fokker F50. However, there could be better days on the horizon for the once major carriers.
Last year, Simple Flying reported that Lufthansa might be in talks to relaunch the airline, but this has yet to materialize. Until then, Sudan Airways announced last month that it is looking to sell its last A300 to raise funds.
What do you think about the history of Sudan Airways? Let us know in the comments!
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