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Flights Kuala Lumpur — Kota Kinabalu

Kuala Lumpur
KUL
Kota Kinabalu
BKI

Cheap flights Kuala Lumpur — Kota Kinabalu

Below you can see the best deals on flights Kuala Lumpur — Kota Kinabalu for upcoming dates. Direct and connecting flights from various airlines — compare prices and choose the right ticket.

The lowest price for the next 2 months is on 4 August, from AED 248.

Top 10 cheap flights Kuala Lumpur — Kota Kinabalu

Direct flights Kuala Lumpur — Kota Kinabalu

Direct flight options for Kuala Lumpur — Kota Kinabalu with no stopovers on upcoming dates. A direct flight is faster and more convenient — especially when travelling with luggage or children.

The fastest direct flight takes around 2 h 30 min.

Top 10 direct flights Kuala Lumpur — Kota Kinabalu

About the Kuala Lumpur — Kota Kinabalu flight

On this page, you can find and purchase flight tickets for the Kuala Lumpur — Kota Kinabalu route. This is one of the busiest routes in Malaysia: the 1,628 km distance is heavily serviced, with approximately 192 flights per week.

Flights are operated by airlines such as AirAsia (AK), Malaysia Airlines (MH), and Batik Air (OD). Ticket prices fluctuate constantly, so we recommend using the price trend chart and checking how to get to Kuala Lumpur Airport and arrange a transfer from Kota Kinabalu Airport in advance.

Return route:return route: flights Kota Kinabalu → Kuala Lumpur

Flight schedule Kuala Lumpur — Kota Kinabalu

The table shows direct flights Kuala Lumpur → Kota Kinabalu on the selected date. The flight takes approximately 2 h 30 min. Regular flights are operated by AirAsia, Malaysia Airline, Batik Air (Malindo Airways Sdn Bhd dba Batik Air Malaysia) and Firefly. Departures from Kuala Lumpur International Airport and Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport airports, arrivals at Kota Kinabalu International Airport.

For each flight, the following details are shown: departure time (local), arrival city and airport, flight number and airline, terminal or gate, and status. Click on a flight to open its details and go to ticket search. To view flights on a different day, change the date above the table.

Today
Any time

Flight ticket prices by day: Kuala Lumpur — Kota Kinabalu

Below is a calendar of the lowest flight ticket prices for Kuala Lumpur — Kota Kinabalu by day. Pick a convenient date and instantly see the fare. The cheapest flights on this route start from AED 117 in e, and the most expensive are around AED 338 in r. If your travel dates are flexible, the calendar will help you find the best price for your preferred period. To view round-trip fares, switch to the "Round trip" tab above the calendar, select your departure date — and the right-hand calendar will highlight the lowest prices for return flights on each day.

 
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Prices by month

Kuala Lumpur → Kota Kinabalu, average one-way price

MonthAverage priceLevelMonthAverage priceLevelMonthAverage priceLevel
JanAED 251mediumMayAED 311highSepAED 261medium
FebAED 231lowJunAED 281mediumOctAED 221low
MarAED 231lowJulAED 281mediumNovAED 221low
AprAED 261mediumAugAED 326highDecAED 316high

Some values are estimated based on seasonality.

When to fly

The hottest month in Kota Kinabalu is May, when average highs reach 29.1°C. The period from October to December is considered the wettest—during this time, rainfall exceeds 320 mm per month, and the number of rainy days reaches 28–29.

The lowest flight prices are recorded in October, starting AED 117. Peak demand occurs in June, when ticket prices start AED 338, making it the most expensive month to plan your trip.

August is an ideal time to fly, with ticket prices starting at around AED 172 and a moderate amount of sunshine. It is best to avoid November due to the combination of high humidity and the fewest dry days of the year.

Temperature · Kota Kinabalu

Dry and wet days · Kota Kinabalu

Wind speed and direction · Kota Kinabalu

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How to get the best deal on a Kuala Lumpur — Kota Kinabalu ticket

  • Book your tickets 4–6 weeks before departure, as fares on this popular route tend to spike sharply just a few days before the flight.
  • Consider flying with low-cost carriers like AirAsia (AK) or Batik Air (OD) if you are traveling without checked baggage—basic fares here start AED 117.
  • Compare offers from Malaysia Airlines (MH), as their fares often include a baggage allowance, which can be more cost-effective than paying extra for a suitcase with budget airlines.
  • Use the low-price calendar on this page to see the price difference between nearby dates and find the cheapest day of the week.
  • Keep in mind that early morning and late-night flights are often cheaper than daytime ones, and prices can drop to as low as AED 166 when purchasing a round-trip ticket.

Airlines

More than 15 airlines operate on the route between Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu, with the key operators being AirAsia (AK), Malaysia Airlines (MH), and Batik Air (OD). The vast majority of flights are direct, making this one of the busiest routes in the region with up to 192 departures per week. To see a detailed schedule for specific days of the week, select the card for your preferred carrier in the list below.

  • AirAsia
    AirAsiaAK
    70x/week
    WebsiteFleet: 10523.9M pax/year
    • Direct flight KUL → BKI70x/week
      Duration
      2h 36m
      Days
      un,MonS
    36.5%Open →
  • Malaysia Airline
    Malaysia AirlineMH
    52x/week
    WebsiteFleet: 8916.6M pax/year
    • Direct flight KUL → BKI52x/week
      Duration
      2h 40m
      Days
      un,MonS
    27.0%Open →
  • Batik Air (Malindo Airways Sdn Bhd dba Batik Air Malaysia)
    Batik Air (Malindo Airways Sdn Bhd dba Batik Air Malaysia)OD
    41x/week
    WebsiteFleet: 355M pax/year
    • Direct flight KUL → BKI32x/week
      Duration
      2h 30m
      Days
      un,MonS
    • Direct flight SZB → BKI9x/week
      Duration
      2h 35m
      Days
      un,MonS
    21.6%Open →
  • Firefly
    FireflyFY
    12x/week
    Fleet: 142M pax/year
    • Direct flight KUL → BKI8x/week
      Duration
      2h 40m
      Days
      un,MonS
    • Direct flight SZB → BKI4x/week
    6.1%Open →
  • Philippine Airlines
    Philippine AirlinesPR
    3x/week
    WebsiteFleet: 7914.7M pax/year
    • Direct flight KUL → BKI3x/week
      Duration
      2h 40m
      Days
      un,MonS
    1.6%Open →
  • Turkish Airlines
    Turkish AirlinesTK
    3x/week
    WebsiteFleet: 49283.4M pax/year
    • Direct flight KUL → BKI3x/week
      Days
      un,MonS
    1.4%Open →
  • Qatar Airways
    Qatar AirwaysQR
    2x/week
    WebsiteFleet: 26640M pax/year
    • Direct flight KUL → BKI2x/week
      Days
      un,MonS
    1.0%Open →
  • Uzbekistan Airways
    Uzbekistan AirwaysHY
    2x/week
    WebsiteFleet: 455M pax/year
    • Direct flight KUL → BKI2x/week
      Days
      un,MonS
    1.0%Open →
  • Indigo Air
    Indigo Air6E
    2x/week
    WebsiteFleet: 434118M pax/year
    • Direct flight KUL → BKI2x/week
      Days
      un,MonS
    1.0%Open →
  • Oman Air
    Oman AirWY
    1x/week
    WebsiteFleet: 325.4M pax/year
    • Direct flight KUL → BKI1x/week
      Days
      un,MonS
    0.5%Open →
  • Myanmar Airways
    Myanmar Airways8M
    1x/week
    WebsiteFleet: 111.2M pax/year
    • Direct flight KUL → BKI1x/week
      Days
      un,MonS
    0.5%Open →
  • Etihad
    EtihadEY
    1x/week
    WebsiteFleet: 9714M pax/year
    • Direct flight KUL → BKI1x/week
    0.3%Open →

Cities and airports on the Kuala Lumpur — Kota Kinabalu route

Flights Kuala Lumpur — Kota Kinabalu depart from Kuala Lumpur International Airport and Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport and arrive at Kota Kinabalu International Airport. Below are pages for the cities, countries, and airports on the route: airlines, schedules, and travel guides.

Departure

Kuala Lumpur

KUL
Malaysia
About the cityHow to get thereWeatherAll about the country Malaysia
Arrival

Kota Kinabalu

BKI
Malaysia
About the cityHow to get thereWeatherAll about the country Malaysia
Departure airports
Arrival airports

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Frequently asked questions about the Kuala Lumpur — Kota Kinabalu flight

How long is the flight from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu?

A direct flight covers the 1,628 km distance in approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes. Travel time may vary slightly depending on weather conditions and the type of aircraft.

Which airlines fly this route?

Regular flight services are provided by AirAsia, Malaysia Airlines, and Batik Air. Connecting flights from other international carriers may also be available.

Are there direct flights between these cities?

Yes, this route is served by a large number of direct flights—totaling about 192 departures per week, making it easy to find a convenient departure time.

Which airport does the flight to Kota Kinabalu arrive at?

All major flights from the capital arrive at Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI), which is the main gateway to the state of Sabah.

When is the best time to buy tickets to save money?

The most favorable fares are usually available when booking 1–2 months before your trip. You can always check the current price minimums and monthly trends in the charts on this page.

Where else you can fly from Kuala Lumpur

Singapore
Singapore∙2 July
AED 159
George Town
George Town∙16 July
AED 113
Jakarta
Jakarta∙14 July
AED 328
Kuching
Kuching∙1 July
AED 123
Bangkok
Bangkok∙20 July
AED 314
Kuah
Kuah∙16 July
AED 118
Johor Bahru
Johor Bahru∙18 July
AED 93
Kota Bharu
Kota Bharu∙19 July
AED 64
Denpasar
Denpasar∙28 June
AED 371

Where else you can fly to Kota Kinabalu from

Bandar Seri Begawan
Bandar Seri Begawan∙14 July
AED 353