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Sudan National Carrier Receives Airbus Program for Rehabilitation

Sudan National Carrier Receives Airbus Program for Rehabilitation
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Sudan National Carrier Receives Airbus Program for Rehabilitation

Sudan National Carrier Receives Airbus Program for Rehabilitation

The Sudanese government announced on Saturday receiving a rehabilitation and operations plan from the European aeronautics company, Airbus, to serve its national carrier Sudan Airways for the upcoming 10 years.

The initiative was inked at a meeting held in Dubai and with each of the Sudanese Transport Minister representatives of the French company.

Transport Minister Makkawi Mohamed Al-Awad expressed in a press statement his hope that Sudan Airways would recapture its global status after having suffered long-term stalemate in world markets.

He considered the initiative with Airbus a step towards development and boosting competition for international airlines.The plan includes open options either through partnership, or sales, he added.

According to the minister, the restructuring of the Sudanese airliner is a part of a national plan to expand a fleet of civil aircraft over the next three years, noting that the Airbus plan is promising for the revival of Sudan Airways.

In preparation for the makeover, Sudan Airways carried out last month a huge employee survey and shuffle which saw the hiring of new personnel.

“Sudan Airways could have been bankrupt. It has not performed well in recent years and has difficulties in to pay back its debts to clients, including the Sudanese civil aviation authorities,” Awad said in an earlier interview.

The Airbus plan was prepared when Sales Director Airbus Middle-East & North Africa Cyrille Picard visited Khartoum two months ago with a large team of experts, Sudan Airways sources said.

Arrangements are under way for the purchase of a new air fleet comprising seven aircraft units.

In November 2017, Khartoum signed a contract with a Chinese company on buying two planes at $60 million.

It is worth noting that Sudan Airways’ partnership with the Islamic Development Bank helps greatly in financing a part of the new aircraft deals.

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Presidential Election: A Crucial First Step toward Saving Lebanon from Economic Crisis

The vacant presidential seat at Baabda Palace after President Michel Aoun's term ended (Reuters)
The vacant presidential seat at Baabda Palace after President Michel Aoun's term ended (Reuters)
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Presidential Election: A Crucial First Step toward Saving Lebanon from Economic Crisis

The vacant presidential seat at Baabda Palace after President Michel Aoun's term ended (Reuters)
The vacant presidential seat at Baabda Palace after President Michel Aoun's term ended (Reuters)

Since 2019, Lebanon has faced one of its worst economic crises in modern history, affecting all aspects of life. The local currency has lost over 95% of its value, driving inflation to record levels and making goods and services unaffordable. Poverty and unemployment have surged.
Amid this, political divisions have paralyzed government action, preventing any effective response to the crisis.
The recent war with Israel added to the burden, causing huge human and material losses estimated by the World Bank at $8.5 billion. This has made Lebanon’s economic and social struggles even harder to resolve, with no president in place to lead the country.
The presidential post in Lebanon has been vacant since President Michel Aoun's term ended in October 2022, leaving the country without a leader to address growing economic and financial issues.
This vacancy has stalled government formation, making it difficult for Lebanon to negotiate with international donors like the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which demands major reforms in exchange for aid.
Choosing a new president is now a critical priority, not only to regain local and international confidence but also to begin the long-needed reforms.
One major challenge the new president will face is the reconstruction effort, which is estimated to cost over $6 billion. This is a huge financial burden that will require significant resources and effort to secure funding.
Reconstruction in Lebanon is not just about fixing infrastructure or repairing damage; it is a key test of the country’s ability to restore its role on the regional and international arena.
To achieve this, Lebanon needs a president with a clear vision and strong international connections, able to engage effectively with donor countries and major financial institutions.
Without credible and unified political leadership, Lebanon’s chances of gaining external support will remain limited, especially as international trust has been shaken by years of mismanagement and lack of reforms.
Keeping Lebanon’s deepening crises in mind, the people are hoping that electing a new president will offer a chance for economic and political recovery.
The new president, along with a strong government, is expected to rebuild trust both locally and internationally and restore political stability—key factors for stopping the economic decline and encouraging growth.
For instance, reviving Lebanon’s vital tourism sector will require better security and restoring confidence in the country as a safe place for investment.
This can only happen with political leadership that has a clear plan for reconstruction and necessary reforms.
Given Lebanon’s ongoing financial struggles, the new president’s ability to address these challenges will be critical to rescuing the country and guiding the economy toward recovery and sustainable growth.