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Sabah Airports 2026 — KKIA Passengers & Route Data

Q: Which airlines fly to Kota Kinabalu?

Major carriers to KKIA include: AirAsia (most flights, budget), Malaysia Airlines (regional, premium), Batik Air (Indonesia routes), Scoot (Singapore), Singapore Airlines, Korean Air, China Eastern, China Southern, Air China, Cathay Pacific, and others. As of 2025, 28+ international routes are served with 157 weekly flights. AirAsia operates majority of domestic routes.

Q: Can I fly direct to Kota Kinabalu from where I am?

Direct flights to KKIA are available from 15+ international destinations: China (Shanghai, Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Kunming, Xiamen), Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta, Seoul, and others. Most US, EU, and Australian travelers connect through Kuala Lumpur (1–2 hour connection). Middle East flights typically connect in Gulf hubs.

Q: Is KKIA being expanded?

Approved, but not started. The Terminal 1 upgrade would raise capacity from 9 million passengers a year to 12 million. Cabinet approved it in November 2024 at RM442.3 million, a figure later described in Parliament as nearly RM500 million. In July 2026 the Deputy Transport Minister told the Dewan Rakyat that work had not begun and that the project awaits a Sabah government decision on the site. Completion has been described as 2028, but no start date has been confirmed.

Q: How do I get from the airport to Kota Kinabalu city?

Options: (1) Taxi/ride-hailing: RM30–50 to city centre (25 min); Grab/Uber available. (2) Airport bus: RM10–15 (45 min). (3) Rental car: RM80–150/day, available at airport. (4) Hotel shuttle: Many hotels offer free pickup (pre-arrange). KKIA is 8 km north of city centre.

Q: Should I fly or drive from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan?

Fly if you're short on time or have luggage: 1-hour flight on MASwings, RM150–250. Drive if you want scenery and flexibility: 5–6 hours on the existing trunk road. The Pan Borneo upgrade of this corridor sits in Phase 1B, which was 13.56% complete in February 2026, so do not expect the drive to change for several years. Combined itinerary: fly one way, drive return for best experience.

Q: Which airport should I fly into for Danum Valley/Lahad Datu access?

Lahad Datu Airport (LDU) is 40 km from Danum Valley entrance. However, flights to LDU are limited (mostly MASwings from KK/Sandakan). Alternative: Fly to Sandakan, then drive 2 hours to Lahad Datu. Easiest: Fly KKIA → Sandakan → Lahad Datu by road/boat. Check flight availability before booking accommodation.

Last updated: 20 August 2026

KKIA aircraft on tarmac with terminal building in background

Some figures on this page are still being checked

We are working through the statistics in this section against their original sources. The headline figures above were re-checked on 20 August 2026. Detailed figures further down the page have not yet been individually verified, and some may be out of date or wrong.

If you spot something that looks wrong, please tell us — it genuinely helps.

ℹ️ The quick answer

Sabah has five airports, but only four carry scheduled flights — Kudat has had none since 2020. Kota Kinabalu is the international gateway, handling 7.04 million passenger movements in 2023, which made it Malaysia’s second-busiest airport that year. Tawau is the second-largest in Sabah at 1.71 million, ahead of Sandakan at 898,000 and Lahad Datu at 143,000. 2023 is the last year Malaysia Airports published airport-level figures; it has released none since being taken private.

✈️

7.04M

KKIA Movements 2023

Malaysia's 2nd busiest that year

📉

9.45M

KKIA 2019 Peak

still above 2023

✈️

1.71M

Tawau Airport

movements, 2023

✈️

898K

Sandakan Airport

movements, 2023

📊

72%

KKIA share of Sabah

our calculation, 2023

🏗️

9M → 12M

Terminal capacity

upgrade not yet started

Passenger Movements by Airport (2023)

Kota Kinabalu carries about 72% of Sabah’s air traffic, not the 90% often quoted — Tawau alone is larger than a 90% share would leave for every other airport combined. Kudat has had no scheduled service since 2020. These are movements, counting each arrival and each departure separately.

Source: MAHB, Airports Statistics 2023

Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA)

Kota Kinabalu is Sabah’s primary international gateway and was Malaysia’s second-busiest airport in 2023, ahead of Penang by under 4%. It handled 7.04 million passenger movements that year and serves destinations across China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and Korea alongside extensive domestic connections. The ranking is close enough that it needs rechecking each year rather than treating as permanent.

The terminal is rated at 9 million passengers a year, lifted to roughly 10 million by an interim reconfiguration in December 2024 — so it has been running close to its ceiling. A Terminal 1 upgrade to 12 million was approved by Cabinet in November 2024 at RM442.3 million. As at July 2026 it had not started, pending a Sabah government decision on the site.

Kota Kinabalu Passenger Movements 2014-2023

Traffic collapsed in 2020 and has recovered strongly since 2021, but 2023 was still about a quarter below the 2019 peak of 9.45 million. The airport has not set a new record.

Source: MAHB, Airports Statistics 2023

Airlines & Routes

KKIA is served by multiple carriers: AirAsia (most flights, budget focus), Malaysia Airlines (full-service, premium), Batik Air (Indonesia routes), Scoot (Singapore), Singapore Airlines, Korean Air, China Eastern, China Southern, Air China, Cathay Pacific, and others. AirAsia operates the majority of the 157 weekly flights.

International destinations from KKIA include: Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Kunming, Xiamen (China); Hong Kong; Taipei (Taiwan); Seoul (South Korea); Singapore; Bangkok; Ho Chi Minh City; Jakarta; Kuala Lumpur; and others. Most long-haul flights (Europe, Americas, Australia) require connections through KL or regional hubs.

Airlines Operating at KKIA (by number of routes)

AirAsia dominates with budget routes; Malaysia Airlines focuses on premium and regional connections.

Source: KKIA flight data 2025

Modern KKIA terminal interior with high ceiling, checkin counters, and arriving passengers — KKIA Terminal interior

Aircraft aircraft parked at gate with boarding bridge and KKIA terminal — KKIA aircraft operations

Sandakan airport smaller regional terminal building with aircraft — Sandakan Airport terminal

Regional Airports

Sandakan Airport (SDK) handled 898,024 passenger movements in 2023, making it Sabah’s third-busiest, not its second. Served primarily by MASwings with connections to Kota Kinabalu, Tawau, Lahad Datu and Peninsular Malaysia. Gateway to the Kinabatangan River, the Sepilok Orangutan Centre and east coast attractions.

Tawau Airport (TWU) is Sabah’s second-busiest airport, handling 1,711,440 passenger movements in 2023 — a figure widely understated elsewhere. Traffic is almost entirely domestic: just ten international movements were recorded that year. Served by AirAsia and MASwings, it is the gateway to Semporna, the dive resorts and Tun Sakaran Marine Park. Its rated capacity is 1.5 million a year, and an expansion towards 2.5 million is under construction.

Lahad Datu Airport (LDU) handled 142,602 passenger movements in 2023. A small regional airport with limited routes, primarily MASwings to Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan and Tawau. Gateway to the Danum Valley Conservation Area.

Kudat Airport (KUD) has recorded no scheduled passenger traffic since 2020. Malaysia Airports lists it, and the Semporna STOLport, at zero movements. If you are travelling to Kudat or the Tip of Borneo, plan on the road from Kota Kinabalu.

Expansion & Future Plans

The Terminal 1 upgrade at Kota Kinabalu remains the priority project, raising capacity from 9 million to 12 million passengers a year. It had not started as at July 2026. Budget 2026 allocated RM2.3 billion across the Penang, Kota Kinabalu, Tawau and Miri airports, with completion targeted by 2028.

Regional airports (Sandakan, Tawau) are also slated for modest upgrades to improve operational efficiency and safety. MASwings is expected to expand regional routes as domestic travel demand grows post-COVID.

Frequently asked questions

Q Which airlines fly to Kota Kinabalu?

Major carriers to KKIA include: AirAsia (most flights, budget), Malaysia Airlines (regional, premium), Batik Air (Indonesia routes), Scoot (Singapore), Singapore Airlines, Korean Air, China Eastern, China Southern, Air China, Cathay Pacific, and others. As of 2025, 28+ international routes are served with 157 weekly flights. AirAsia operates majority of domestic routes.

Q Can I fly direct to Kota Kinabalu from where I am?

Direct flights to KKIA are available from 15+ international destinations: China (Shanghai, Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Kunming, Xiamen), Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta, Seoul, and others. Most US, EU, and Australian travelers connect through Kuala Lumpur (1–2 hour connection). Middle East flights typically connect in Gulf hubs.

Q Is KKIA being expanded?

Approved, but not started. The Terminal 1 upgrade would raise capacity from 9 million passengers a year to 12 million. Cabinet approved it in November 2024 at RM442.3 million, a figure later described in Parliament as nearly RM500 million. In July 2026 the Deputy Transport Minister told the Dewan Rakyat that work had not begun and that the project awaits a Sabah government decision on the site. Completion has been described as 2028, but no start date has been confirmed.

Q How do I get from the airport to Kota Kinabalu city?

Options: (1) Taxi/ride-hailing: RM30–50 to city centre (25 min); Grab/Uber available. (2) Airport bus: RM10–15 (45 min). (3) Rental car: RM80–150/day, available at airport. (4) Hotel shuttle: Many hotels offer free pickup (pre-arrange). KKIA is 8 km north of city centre.

Q Should I fly or drive from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan?

Fly if you're short on time or have luggage: 1-hour flight on MASwings, RM150–250. Drive if you want scenery and flexibility: 5–6 hours on the existing trunk road. The Pan Borneo upgrade of this corridor sits in Phase 1B, which was 13.56% complete in February 2026, so do not expect the drive to change for several years. Combined itinerary: fly one way, drive return for best experience.

Q Which airport should I fly into for Danum Valley/Lahad Datu access?

Lahad Datu Airport (LDU) is 40 km from Danum Valley entrance. However, flights to LDU are limited (mostly MASwings from KK/Sandakan). Alternative: Fly to Sandakan, then drive 2 hours to Lahad Datu. Easiest: Fly KKIA → Sandakan → Lahad Datu by road/boat. Check flight availability before booking accommodation.

Sources & References 6 sources

Last verified: 20 August 2026