Cheap Flights from Sandakan to Kota Kinabalu

Compare Sandakan to Kota Kinabalu flight deals

Find the cheapest month or even day of the year to fly to Kota Kinabalu

Book the best Kota Kinabalu fare with no extra fees

Flight deals from Sandakan to Kota Kinabalu

Looking for a cheap last-minute deal or the best return flight from Sandakan Airport to Kota Kinabalu Airport? If you want to travel next month, return fares start from R 1,108. Find the lowest prices on one-way and return tickets right here.

Kota Kinabalu.R 517 per passenger.Departing Tue, 15 Sep.One-way flight with AirAsia.Outbound direct flight with AirAsia departs from Sandakan on Tue, 15 Sep, arriving in Kota Kinabalu.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 517, select.

Kota Kinabalu.R 522 per passenger.Departing Sat, 16 Jan.One-way flight with AirAsia.Outbound direct flight with AirAsia departs from Sandakan on Sat, 16 Jan, arriving in Kota Kinabalu.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 522, select.

Kota Kinabalu.R 522 per passenger.Departing Mon, 26 Oct.One-way flight with AirAsia.Outbound direct flight with AirAsia departs from Sandakan on Mon, 26 Oct, arriving in Kota Kinabalu.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 522, select.

Kota Kinabalu.R 522 per passenger.Departing Tue, 4 Aug.One-way flight with AirAsia.Outbound direct flight with AirAsia departs from Sandakan on Tue, 4 Aug, arriving in Kota Kinabalu.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 522, select.

Kota Kinabalu.R 523 per passenger.Departing Sat, 18 Jul.One-way flight with AirAsia.Outbound direct flight with AirAsia departs from Sandakan on Sat, 18 Jul, arriving in Kota Kinabalu.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 523, select.

Kota Kinabalu.R 526 per passenger.Departing Wed, 3 Mar.One-way flight with AirAsia.Outbound direct flight with AirAsia departs from Sandakan on Wed, 3 Mar, arriving in Kota Kinabalu.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 526, select.

Kota Kinabalu.R 541 per passenger.Departing Mon, 22 Feb.One-way flight with AirAsia.Outbound direct flight with AirAsia departs from Sandakan on Mon, 22 Feb, arriving in Kota Kinabalu.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 541, select.

Kota Kinabalu.R 542 per passenger.Departing Sun, 11 Apr.One-way flight with AirAsia.Outbound direct flight with AirAsia departs from Sandakan on Sun, 11 Apr, arriving in Kota Kinabalu.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 542, select.

Kota Kinabalu.R 545 per passenger.Departing Wed, 4 Nov.One-way flight with AirAsia.Outbound direct flight with AirAsia departs from Sandakan on Wed, 4 Nov, arriving in Kota Kinabalu.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 545, select.

Kota Kinabalu.R 550 per passenger.Departing Wed, 2 Dec.One-way flight with AirAsia.Outbound direct flight with AirAsia departs from Sandakan on Wed, 2 Dec, arriving in Kota Kinabalu.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 550, select.

Kota Kinabalu.R 552 per passenger.Departing Sun, 9 May.One-way flight with AirAsia.Outbound direct flight with AirAsia departs from Sandakan on Sun, 9 May, arriving in Kota Kinabalu.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 552, select.

Kota Kinabalu.R 588 per passenger.Departing Tue, 30 Jun.One-way flight with AirAsia.Outbound direct flight with AirAsia departs from Sandakan on Tue, 30 Jun, arriving in Kota Kinabalu.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 588, select.

Kota Kinabalu.R 2,975 per passenger.Departing Sun, 6 Jun.One-way flight with Malaysia Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Malaysia Airlines, departs from Sandakan on Sun, 6 Jun, arriving in Kota Kinabalu.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 2,975, select.

Find the cheapest month to fly from Sandakan to Kota Kinabalu

We’re always keeping an eye on fares, so you can find the best one in seconds. It looks like Sandakan to Kota Kinabalu flights are currently cheapest in September.

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Direct flights from Sandakan to Kota Kinabalu

Sandakan to Kota Kinabalu: Alternative routes

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

Kota Kinabalu

6km from central Kota Kinabalu

ClosestCheapest

from R 517

Search flights

Sandakan to Kota Kinabalu: Flight information

The things to know before you go.

Cheapest flight found	R 517
Cheapest month to fly	September
Average flight time	48 mins
Most popular airline	AirAsia
Average flights per week	67

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

How much are return flights from Sandakan to Kota Kinabalu?

The best price we found for a return flight from Sandakan to Kota Kinabalu is R 1,056. 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.

How long does it take to fly from Sandakan to Kota Kinabalu?

48 minutes is the average flight time from Sandakan to Kota Kinabalu.

Which airlines fly direct from Sandakan to Kota Kinabalu?

AirAsia flies direct from Sandakan to Kota Kinabalu.

How many flights are there a week from Sandakan to Kota Kinabalu?

As of June 2026, there are 67 flights per week flying from Sandakan to Kota Kinabalu.

When is the cheapest time to fly from Sandakan to Kota Kinabalu?

The cheapest month to fly from Sandakan to Kota Kinabalu is usually September.

Which upcoming date is cheapest to fly from Sandakan Airport to Kota Kinabalu Airport on?

After crunching the numbers on our flight calendar, we found that it's currently cheapest to fly from Sandakan Airport to Kota Kinabalu Airport on Monday, 14 September 2026.

Can I get a direct flight from Sandakan Airport to Kota Kinabalu Airport?

Yes – the average flight time is 48 minutes.

How can I find the best flight deal to Kota Kinabalu?

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 Kota Kinabalu 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.

When is the best time to book flights to Kota Kinabalu?

We crunched all the numbers in our flight calendar and it looks like the cheapest time to book a flight to Kota Kinabalu is around 40 days in advance, so don’t leave your flight to the last minute.

Which is the cheapest airline to fly from Sandakan Airport to Kota Kinabalu with?

Currently, AirAsia offers the cheapest flight tickets to Kota Kinabalu.

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

Around 50 minutes is how long you can expect to be in the air on a direct flight from Sandakan Airport to Kota Kinabalu Airport.
Kota Kinabalu's timezone is UTC+8, which is the same as Sandakan.
There are 43 Sandakan Airport to Kota Kinabalu Airport flights each week.
Arrive at the airport on time so you don't miss your SDK to BKI flight. Be there at least two hours ahead for international flights and an hour early for domestic departures to prevent a last-minute sprint to your gate.
Travelling during a peak month like April? Major public holidays and other high seasons can mean longer queues at check-in and security. Be extra cautious and arrive up to four hours before an international flight and two hours before a domestic departure.
Getting to Kota Kinabalu (and then discovering more of Malaysia!) is a cinch with AirAsia. This popular airline has direct flights from Sandakan Airport to Kota Kinabalu Airport.
AirAsia is the most frequently booked airline on this route.
AirAsia is the most punctual carrier that operates SDK to BKI flights, with 66.67% of its services arriving on schedule.
If you want to add a stop to your trip, just deselect 'Direct flights only' when searching for your ticket from Sandakan Airport to Kota Kinabalu Airport. These are the most popular stopovers between SDK and BKI:
- Kuala Lumpur International Airport
- Tawau Airport
- Lahad Datu Airport

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

The cheapest price we've seen for a one-way Sandakan Airport to Kota Kinabalu Airport flight is R 517. A return ticket right now is R 1,055. Depending on the availability when you book, these fares can change.
To score cheap tickets from SDK to BKI, book your trip 11 months before your departure date.
April is the cheapest month for flights from Sandakan Airport to Kota Kinabalu Airport. If you prefer to travel during a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will show you the lowest prices across every month.
Stay on top of deals for cheap flights from SDK to BKI by setting up a Price Alert. You'll receive an email or notification on the app when fares go down.
Tailor your flights with filters. Select your preferred arrival and departure times, total journey duration and airlines. You can also sort your results by 'Best,' 'Fastest' or 'Cheapest' flights from Sandakan Airport to Kota Kinabalu Airport.

Handy information about Sandakan Airport (SDK)

Of all flights leaving Sandakan Airport, 57% touch down on time at their destination.
Sandakan Airport is about 11 kilometres from central Sandakan. If you're ride-sharing, catching a taxi or driving from the centre, it'll take you 20 minutes or so to get there, depending on the traffic.
Taking public transport? You can expect a journey time of around 35 minutes.
Get your holiday off to a relaxed start by staying near SDK. Whether you're boarding an early flight from Sandakan Airport to Kota Kinabalu Airport or just don't like being rushed, these hotels are ideal:

Arriving at Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI)

If you have a late Sandakan Airport to Kota Kinabalu Airport flight, few things beat the convenience of being close to the terminal. Pick up your bags from the carousel and then be resting not long after at one of these hotels near BKI:
Get your adventure underway by picking up a Kota Kinabalu Airport rental car. Grab a set of wheels from NH Travel, Green Motion or Keddy By Europcar and explore beyond Kota Kinabalu's usual tourist stops.
To lock in the lowest price, reserve your ride from Kota Kinabalu Airport around one week in advance.

When to fly to Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI)

August is the most popular month for flights from Sandakan Airport to Kota Kinabalu Airport. To steer clear of the crowds, travel to Kota Kinabalu in March.
When booking your flight from Sandakan Airport to Kota Kinabalu Airport, think about the kind of weather you like. May is the warmest month in Kota Kinabalu, with the temperature ranging from 24ºC (75ºF) to 31ºC (88ºF).
Search for cheap tickets from SDK to BKI in February if you like cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest around then, ranging between 23ºC (73ºF) and 29ºC (84ºF) on average.

Explore more of Malaysia

Kota Kinabalu has plenty to offer, but there are so many other parts of Malaysia you'll want to see. About 225 kilometres east of Kota Kinabalu, a trip to Sandakan will keep your itinerary busy. Don't miss top attractions like Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, Sun Bear Conservation Centre, Sepilok and Sandakan Rainforest Park.
Tawau is another must-experience destination in Malaysia and is around 274 kilometres south-east of Kota Kinabalu. No journey is complete without experiencing Hot Springs Tawau, Teck Guan Cocoa Museum and Batu payung.