Gateways to Sabah: Flights to and from Kota Kinabalu
Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) is the primary gateway to Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. Approximately 8km south of KK city, 7 million passengers were handled in 2023, making it the second busiest airport in Malaysia.
Aerial picture of Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA)
Departing Kota Kinabalu International Airport
Gateways to Sabah
For visitors to Sabah KUL, SIN & HKG are all very popular gateways, but others you could consider are:
Bandar Seri Begawan (BWN) in Brunei (Royal Brunei Airlines have a growing international network, and BWN is only 20 minutes flying time from Kota Kinabalu)
Seoul (ICN) is another good option
Could you combine your visit to Sabah with a city break?
International Flights to / from Kota Kinabalu (BKI) as of December 2024
Please note that these schedules are only meant to be as a guide for planning; schedules can change with little notice, sometimes overnight so always check the airline websites for the latest information.
BRUNEI
Bandar Seri Begawan (BWN)
Royal Brunei Airlines (BI) operates six flights per week flights Kota Kinabalu (BKI) to Bandar Seri Begawan (BWN)
CHINA
Beijing (PKX)
Air Asia (AK) operates a daily flight from Kota Kinabalu (BKI) to Beijing Daxing (PKX)
Guangzhou (CAN)
Air Asia (AK) operates eight flights per week from Kota Kinabalu (BKI) to Guangzhou (CAN)
China Southern (CZ) operates nine flights per week from Kota Kinabalu (BKI) to Guangzhou (CAN)
Hangzhou (HGH)
Air Asia (AK) operates a daily flight from Kota Kinabalu (BKI) to Hangzhou (HGH)
Hong Kong (HKG)
Air Asia (AK) operates a double-daily flight Kota Kinabalu (BKI) to Hong Kong (HKG)
Shanghai (PVG)
Air Asia (AK) operates a daily flight Kota Kinabalu (BKI) to Shanghai (PVG)
Shanghai Airlines (FM) operates a daily flight Kota Kinabalu (BKI) to Shanghai (PVG)
Shenzhen (SZX)
Air Asia (AK) operates a double-daily flight Kota Kinabalu (BKI) to Shenzhen (SZX)
Wuhan (WUH)
Air Asia (AK) operates a daily flight Kota Kinabalu (BKI) to Wuhan (WUH)
INDONESIA
Jakarta (CGK)
Indonesia Air Asia (QZ) operates four weekly flights from Kota Kinabalu (BKI) to Jakarta (CGK)
PHILLIPINES
Manila (MNL)
Air Asia (Z2) operates four flights per week from Kota Kinabalu (BKI) to Manila (MNL)
SINGAPORE
Singapore (SIN)
Air Asia operates (AK) operates a daily flight Kota Kinabalu (BKI) to Singapore (SIN)
Scoot (TR) operates a daily flight Kota Kinabalu (BKI) to Singapore (SIN)
SOUTH KOREA
Gimpae International (PUS)
Jeju Air (7C) operates five flights a week Kota Kinabalu (BKI) to Gimpae International (PUS)
Air Busan (BX) operates two flights a week Kota Kinabalu (BKI) to Gimpae International (PUS)
Seoul (ICN)
Air Asia (AK) operates a daily flight Kota Kinabalu (BKI) to Seoul-Incheon (ICN)
Jin Air (LJ) operates four flights a week Kota Kinabalu (BKI) to Seoul-Incheon (ICN)
T’way Air (TW) operates a daily flight Kota Kinabalu (BKI) to Seoul-Incheon (ICN)
Jeju Air (7C) operates a daily flight Kota Kinabalu (BKI) to Seoul-Incheon (ICN)
Asiana (OZ) operates a daily flight Kota Kinabalu (BKI) to Seoul-Incheon (ICN)
TAIWAN CHINA
Taipei (TPE)
Air Asia (AK) operates a daily flight from Kota Kinabalu (BKI) to Taipei (TPE)
VIETNAM
Ho Chi Minh City (SGN)
Air Asia (AK) operates three flights per week Kota Kinabalu (BKI) to Ho Chi Minh City (SGN)
Domestic Flights from/to Kota Kinabalu (BKI) as of December 2024
PENINSULA MALAYSIA
Johor Bahru / Senai International (JHB)
Air Asia (AK) operates 18 weekly flights Kota Kinabalu (BKI) to Johor Bahru / Senai International (JHB)
Kota Bharu (KBR)
Air Asia (AK) operates three flights per week from Kota Kinabalu (BKI) to Kota Bharu (KBR)
Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL)
Air Asia (AK) operates 12-14 daily flights Kota Kinabalu (BKI) to Kuala Lumpur (Terminal 2) (KUL)
Malaysia Airlines (MH) operates 6-7 daily flights Kota Kinabalu (BKI) to Kuala Lumpur (Terminal 1) (KUL)
Batik Air Malaysia (OD) operates four daily flights Kota Kinabalu (BKI) to Kuala Lumpur (Terminal 1) (KUL)
Kuala Lumpur Sultan Abdul Azziz Shah (SZB)
Air Asia (AK) operates a double-daily flight Kota Kinabalu (BKI) to Kuala Lumpur Sultan Abdul Azziz Shah (SZB)
Firefly operates a daily flight Kota Kinabalu (BKI) to Kuala Lumpur Sultan Abdul Azziz Shah (SZB)
Penang (PEN)
Air Asia (AK) operates a daily flight Kota Kinabalu (BKI) to Penang (PEN)
Firefly operates a daily flight Kota Kinabalu (BKI) to Penang (PEN)
Federal Territory, Labuan (LBU)
MASwings (MH) operates three daily flights from Kota Kinabalu (BKI) to Labuan (LBU)
Within Sabah
Lahad Datu (LDU)
MASwings (MH) operates four daily flights from Kota Kinabalu (BKI) to Lahad Datu (LDU)
Sandakan (SDK)
Air Asia (AK) operates four daily flights from Kota Kinabalu (BKI) to Sandakan (SDK)
Malaysia Airlines (MH) operates five flights per week from Kota Kinabalu (BKI) to Sandakan (SDK)
Tawau (TWU)
Air Asia (AK) operates four daily flights Kota Kinabalu (BKI) to Sandakan (SDK)
Firefly (FY) operates four flights per week Kota Kinabalu (BKI) to Sandakan (SDK)
Sarawak
Bintulu (BTU)
Air Asia (AK) operates operates five flights per week from Kota Kinabalu (BKI) to Bintulu (BTU)
Kuching (KCH)
Air Asia (AK) operates three daily flights Kota Kinabalu (BKI) to Kuching (KCH)
Firefly (FY) operates a daily flight Kota Kinabalu (BKI) to Kuching (KCH)
Lawas (LWY)
MASwings (MH) operates two flights per week from Kota Kinabalu (BKI) to Lawas (LWY)
Limbang (LMN)
MASwings (MH) operates three flights a week Kota Kinabalu (BKI) to Limbang (LMN)
Miri (MYY)
Air Asia (AK) operates two daily flights from Kota Kinabalu (BKI) to Miri (MYY)
Mulu (MZV)
MASwings (MH) operates a daily flight from Kota Kinabalu (BKI) to Mulu (MZV)
Sibu (SBW)
Air Asia (AK) operates a daily flight Kota Kinabalu (BKI) to Sibu (SBW)
Where is Sabah?
Borneo is the world’s third-largest island, located at the geographic centre of maritime southeast Asia. Politically, the island is divided into three countries. By far, the largest area of the landmass is Indonesian territory known as Kalimantan, whilst by comparison, Brunei takes up only about 1% of the total area of Borneo. The remainder is Malaysian territory, and the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak form what is known as East Malaysia.
Geographically, Sabah occupies the northern part of Borneo island and has a population of some 3.8 million and, in terms of size, is a little smaller than Scotland in area. Sabah is five degrees north of the Equator and is tropical. Accordingly, It’s warm all year round without exception, and in KK and other areas at sea level, the average daytime temperature is around 27C – 32C. By comparison, the Kinabalu National Park is around 1500 metres above sea level and is, of course, cooler, with an average daytime temperature of 20C – 25C falling to around 16C – 18C at night, whilst at the summit of Mount Kinabalu it may be just 4C – 5C.
Being tropical, it is always possible to rain on any day, and January through April is often the period with the least rainfall. If you intend to climb Mount Kinabalu, October and December are the wetter months.
Putting Sabah on the map, with the red marker showing the capital Kota Kinabalu. As you can see Kuala Lumpa and Singapore are two of the ideal options for stopovers en route to Sabah.