Emirates and flydubai extend Sudan flight suspensions

Move comes as civil unrest continues and Khartoum International Airport is closed

Smoke rises near Khartoum airport as clashes in the city continue. Flydubai and Emirates have extended flight suspensions to the country. AFP

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UAE airlines have extended a suspension on passenger flights to and from Sudan amid ongoing fighting between paramilitary forces and the army in the African nation.

Emirates has cancelled flights between Dubai and Khartoum until at least April 30.

The airline had originally announced a suspension until April 17.

“Due to a deteriorating situation of civil unrest in Khartoum, all Emirates flights to/from Khartoum are cancelled from April 15 until April 30,” Emirates said.

“Customers connecting on Emirates or flydubai flights to Khartoum will not be accepted for travel at the point of origin until further notice.

“We are closely monitoring the situation in Khartoum and updates with regards to Emirates operations will be published in due course.”

Low-cost airline flydubai has also extended its suspension on services to Sudan.

“Due to the ongoing situation in Sudan, all flydubai flights between Dubai and Khartoum Airport have been cancelled until May 31,” a representative for the airline told The National.

“The safety of our crew and passengers is our number one priority, we apologise for the inconvenience caused to our passengers’ travel schedules."

Flydubai normally operates a daily service to the Sudanese capital.

Passengers who had travel to Sudan booked should contact their travel agents directly or reach out to Emirates or flydubai for rebooking options.

On Saturday, a Saudia flight departing Khartoum airport was shot at while preparing to take off. The Saudi airline has since suspended all flights to and from Sudan.

Sharjah's Air Arabia has also suspended flights until further notice.

Khartoum has been the site of intense fighting between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, in what is the latest in Sudan’s seemingly endless civil wars since independence in 1956.

It is the first time that the capital has been at the centre of the violence.