Turkish Airlines has lodged a formal complaint with authorities at Port Sudan International Airport after one of its flights was delayed by more than an hour, according to local aviation sources.
Sources cited by Sudanese aviation outlet Tayaran Baladna said the flight was held up during departure procedures, including passenger baggage screening and other operational and security checks.
The delay reportedly caused some passengers to miss onward connecting flights, forcing Turkish Airlines to incur additional costs related to passenger assistance and compensation.
According to the sources, the airline expressed frustration over the incident and warned that repeated disruptions could affect the future operation of its services to Sudan.
Turkish Airlines was also reported to have indicated that it could reconsider continuing flights to the country if delays of this nature persist and the underlying problems affecting departure procedures are not addressed.
The incident has renewed scrutiny of coordination between authorities operating at Port Sudan International Airport, including airport management, customs officials and teams responsible for baggage screening and other pre-departure procedures.
Delays at any stage of the process can disrupt airline schedules, affect connecting passengers and create additional operational and financial costs for carriers.
The complaint has prompted calls for airport authorities and customs officials to improve coordination and establish clearer procedures to ensure flights can depart on schedule and similar incidents are not repeated.
Port Sudan International Airport has become Sudan’s main international aviation hub during the country’s ongoing war, making the reliability of its operations increasingly important for airlines maintaining services to the country.
