Skyscanner

Cheap Flights from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan

Travellers and cabin class

Compare Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan flight deals

Find the cheapest month or even day of the year to fly to Sandakan

Book the best Sandakan fare with no extra fees

Flight deals from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan

Looking for a cheap last-minute deal or the best return flight from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan? Find the lowest prices on one-way and return tickets right here.
Sandakan.R 41 per passenger.Departing Sat, 10 May.One-way flight with Malaysia Airlines.Outbound direct flight with Malaysia Airlines departs from Kota Kinabalu on Sat, 10 May, arriving in Sandakan.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 41, select.
Sandakan.R 217 per passenger.Departing Tue, 23 Sep.One-way flight with AirAsia.Outbound direct flight with AirAsia departs from Kota Kinabalu on Tue, 23 Sep, arriving in Sandakan.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 217, select.
Sandakan.R 217 per passenger.Departing Sat, 12 Jul.One-way flight with AirAsia.Outbound direct flight with AirAsia departs from Kota Kinabalu on Sat, 12 Jul, arriving in Sandakan.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 217, select.
Sandakan.R 218 per passenger.Departing Sun, 3 Aug.One-way flight with AirAsia.Outbound direct flight with AirAsia departs from Kota Kinabalu on Sun, 3 Aug, arriving in Sandakan.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 218, select.
Sandakan.R 218 per passenger.Departing Sun, 5 Oct.One-way flight with AirAsia.Outbound direct flight with AirAsia departs from Kota Kinabalu on Sun, 5 Oct, arriving in Sandakan.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 218, select.
Sandakan.R 218 per passenger.Departing Tue, 4 Nov.One-way flight with AirAsia.Outbound direct flight with AirAsia departs from Kota Kinabalu on Tue, 4 Nov, arriving in Sandakan.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 218, select.
Sandakan.R 218 per passenger.Departing Tue, 10 Jun.One-way flight with AirAsia.Outbound direct flight with AirAsia departs from Kota Kinabalu on Tue, 10 Jun, arriving in Sandakan.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 218, select.
Sandakan.R 266 per passenger.Departing Wed, 17 Dec.One-way flight with Firefly.Outbound direct flight with Firefly departs from Kota Kinabalu on Wed, 17 Dec, arriving in Sandakan.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 266, select.

Find the cheapest month to fly from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan

We’re always keeping an eye on fares, so you can find the best one in seconds. It looks like Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan flights are currently cheapest in May.
May
from R 41
Jun
from R 218
Jul
from R 217
Aug
from R 218
Sep
from R 217
Oct
from R 218
Nov
from R 218
Dec
from R 266
Jan
from R 433
Feb
from R 432
Mar
from R 266
Apr
from R 677

Direct flights from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan

Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan: Alternative routes

Compare routes from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan below. You may find an airport to fly into that's cheaper, faster, or easier than Sandakan.

Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan: Flight information

The things to know before you go.
Cheapest flight foundR 41
Cheapest month to flyMay
Average flight time47 mins
Most popular airlineAirAsia
Average flights per week44

Finding cheap flights from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan: Frequently asked questions

The best price we found for a return flight from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan is R 451. This is an estimate based on information collected from different airlines and travel providers over the last 4 days and is subject to change and availability.
47 minutes is the average flight time from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan.
AirAsia, Firefly and Malaysia Airlines fly direct from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan.
As of May 2025, there are 44 flights per week flying from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan.
The cheapest month to fly from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan is usually May 2025.
After crunching the numbers on our flight calendar, we found that it's currently cheapest to fly from Kota Kinabalu Airport to Sandakan Airport on Sunday, 25 May 2025.
Yes – the average flight time is 47 minutes.
We show every price from over 1,200 airlines and travel agents, comparing them all so you don’t have to. If you know you want to fly to Sandakan but you’re not ready to book, set up a Price Alert. We’ll track prices for you, and let you know when they rise or fall.
We crunched all the numbers in our flight calendar and it looks like the cheapest time to book a flight to Sandakan is around 40 days in advance, so don’t leave your flight to the last minute.
Currently, AirAsia offers the cheapest flight tickets to Sandakan.

Travelling from Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI) to Sandakan Airport (SDK): what you need to know

  • Jump on a direct flight from Kota Kinabalu International Airport to Sandakan Airport and you'll be travelling for an average of 45 minutes.

  • Flights from BKI to SDK start from 06:20 — the earliest with AirAsia. The latest departure is at 16:40 with AirAsia. Overall, you can take your pick of 288 weekly Kota Kinabalu International Airport to Sandakan Airport flights.

  • Give yourself plenty of time to make your BKI to SDK flight. Generally, it's best to arrive at least two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.

  • You can expect longer lines in popular months like August. Arriving up to four hours ahead of international flights and two hours for domestic departures is a good idea.

  • AirAsia has direct flights from Kota Kinabalu International Airport to Sandakan Airport. Book with this popular carrier, then get ready to see the sights in Sandakan — and maybe even more of Malaysia if your schedule allows.

  • AirAsia is the top choice for travellers on this route.

  • Firefly is the most punctual carrier operating BKI to SDK flights. An impressive 86.11% of its services on this route arrive as planned.

  • We make it a breeze to book a flight with a stopover. To see all your options for tickets from Kota Kinabalu International Airport to Sandakan Airport, deselect 'Direct flights only.' Then, choose a flight that has a stop long enough to tour your chosen city. Worthwhile stopovers between BKI and SDK include:

    • Lahad Datu Airport

    • Tawau Airport

    • Kuala Lumpur International Airport

How to find the cheapest flights from Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI) to Sandakan Airport (SDK)

  • The lowest price we've seen for a one-way Kota Kinabalu International Airport to Sandakan Airport flight is R 41. A round-trip ticket right now is R 451. Depending on the availability and when you book, these fares can change.

  • Book five months before your departure date. After looking at the numbers on our calendar, this is how far you should book ahead to find cheap tickets from BKI to SDK.

  • Organise your trip for April. That's the cheapest month for flights from Kota Kinabalu International Airport to Sandakan Airport. If you have flexibility with your dates, use the 'Whole month' tool to find the lowest airfare across each month.

  • There's no need to check back in every day to see if fares have dropped when you set up a Price Alert. We'll let you know as soon as a special offer becomes available on cheap flights from BKI to SDK.

  • Pick your ideal departure and arrival times, number of stops and airlines with the filters. Alternatively, sort your results by 'Cheapest' to see the best deals on flights from Kota Kinabalu International Airport to Sandakan Airport.

Handy information about Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI)

  • When it comes to the on-time performance of Kota Kinabalu International Airport, 73.51% of flights arrive within the expected timeframe.

  • To get to Kota Kinabalu International Airport from central Kota Kinabalu, it'll take around 15 minutes if you're travelling by car. This depends on traffic though. It's approximately 8 kilometres from the airport to the city centre.

  • Have an early flight from Kota Kinabalu International Airport to Sandakan Airport? Avoid rushing to the airport (and get some extra shut-eye) by picking one of these hotels near BKI:

Arriving at Sandakan Airport (SDK)

  • The last thing you want is a lengthy trip to your hotel if you're getting in late on a Kota Kinabalu International Airport to Sandakan Airport flight. Reserve one of these accommodation options near SDK instead:

  • Book a Sandakan Airport rental car and check out destinations off the typical tourist track. Hertz and Avis can set you up with a set of wheels for your adventures through Sandakan and beyond.

  • Booking your ride from Sandakan Airport about three weeks in advance gives you the best chance of locking in a great deal.

Getting from Sandakan Airport (SDK) to central Sandakan

  • Sandakan Airport is approximately 6 kilometres from the centre of Sandakan. The drive time takes around 10 minutes.

When to fly to Sandakan Airport (SDK)

  • The quietest month for a flight from Kota Kinabalu International Airport to Sandakan Airport is February, while August is the most popular. Pick the best time to visit Sandakan based on whether you prefer a faster pace or a more relaxed vibe.

  • When reserving your flight from Kota Kinabalu International Airport to Sandakan Airport, think about the kind of weather you enjoy. May is the warmest month in Sandakan, with the temperature ranging from 24ºC (75ºF) to 31ºC (88ºF).

  • If you like travelling in cooler conditions, search for a cheap ticket from BKI to SDK in February. Temperatures average between 23ºC (73ºF) and 29ºC (84ºF) then.

Explore more of Malaysia

  • Sandakan has plenty going for it, but there are so many other parts of Malaysia waiting to be explored. Around 225 kilometres west of Sandakan, a trip to Kota Kinabalu will keep your itinerary busy. Start with leading sights like DREAM, Bukit Kopungit Peak and Auditorium Galeri Azman Hashim UMS/Auditorium Sekafi.

  • If there's time to check out another well-known destination in Malaysia, consider Tawau, about 177 kilometres south of Sandakan. Teck Guan Cocoa Museum, Tawau Bell Tower (The Belfry) and Masjid Al-Khauthar, Sabindo Tawau, Sabah. Are the start of reasons to visit.

Plan the rest of your trip from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan

Prices shown on this page are estimated lowest prices only. Found in the last 45 days.