Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI) — Arrivals, Transport & Tips
Kota Kinabalu International Airport (IATA: BKI) is Sabah's main airport and the second busiest in Malaysia. It's compact, relatively easy to navigate, and only 8 km from the city centre.
Terminal Overview
Regular scheduled passenger flights all use Terminal 1:
- Terminal 1 (T1) — Used by every passenger airline, AirAsia included, for domestic and international flights.
- Terminal 2 (closed to scheduled passenger flights): closed to scheduled passenger flights on 1 December 2015, when AirAsia moved to Terminal 1. It now handles cargo, charter, VIP and general aviation (eTawau; Wikipedia; both checked 5 October 2026).
Some older guides and booking pages still send AirAsia passengers to Terminal 2. All regular scheduled passenger flights, AirAsia included, use Terminal 1.
Getting to/from the Airport
| Option | Cost (approx.) | Time to City | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grab | RM15–25 | 15–25 min | Most convenient. Pick up at designated e-hailing zone. |
| Airport taxi | RM30–35 | 15–25 min | Fixed-rate coupon system. Buy at counter before exit. |
| BAS.MY pink bus (S07 / S08) | Low fare | 30–45 min | Cheapest option. Fares, frequency and hours change, so check our BAS.MY guide before you travel. |
| Car rental | From RM80/day | — | Counters in arrival hall. Book ahead for better rates. |
| Hotel shuttle | Free–RM20 | Varies | Some hotels offer airport pickup. Arrange in advance. |
Grab is almost always cheaper than the airport taxi counter. The taxi uses fixed rates that are higher than metered fares. Use Grab unless you don't have a Malaysian SIM card or data.
Two BAS.MY "pink bus" routes serve KKIA — S07 via Aeropod and Kepayan, and S08 via Sembulan, Sutera Harbour and Imago — both roughly every 15 minutes for a fare well under RM2. You can tap an ordinary contactless Visa or Mastercard on boarding, so there's nothing to buy in advance.
It's the cheapest way into town by a wide margin, and fine if you're travelling light. With large suitcases, a late-night arrival, or a group of three or more, Grab is still the sensible choice — the cost difference shrinks fast once you split it.
Facilities
- ATMs — Available in both terminals (arrival and departure halls). Maybank, CIMB, and RHB.
- Money exchange — Counters in arrival hall. Rates are acceptable but slightly worse than city centre.
- SIM cards — Celcom and Hotlink counters in T1 arrival hall. Get a prepaid tourist SIM (about RM30 for 15GB).
- WiFi — Free airport WiFi available (limited speed). Connect to "BKI Free WiFi".
- Lounges — Plaza Premium Lounge in T1 (pay-per-use or Priority Pass).
- Food — Limited options airside. Better to eat in the city. There's a small food court in T1 departure hall.
- Prayer room — Available in both terminals.
- Left luggage — Storage service in T1 (about RM15–25 per bag per day).
Arrival Tips
- Immigration — Even domestic arrivals from Peninsular Malaysia go through Sabah immigration. Have your passport/IC ready.
- Queue times — Can be 20–40 minutes during peak hours (afternoon when multiple flights land). Auto-gates are available for Malaysian passport holders.
- Buy a SIM card before leaving the airport if you need data for Grab and maps.
- Grab pickup — Follow signs to the e-hailing pickup zone. It's a short walk from the arrival hall.
- Late arrivals — If you land after 10 PM, Grab availability drops. Airport taxi is the safer option.
Departure Tips
- Arrive 2 hours early for domestic, 3 hours for international. Security and check-in queues can be slow.
- Duty-free — Limited selection compared to KLIA. Chocolates and alcohol are the main draws.
- One terminal: every scheduled passenger flight leaves from Terminal 1, so there is no wrong building to go to.
- Grab to airport — Budget RM15–25 from city centre. Add extra time during rush hour (7–9 AM, 5–7 PM).