On this page, you can find and purchase flight tickets for the Shanghai — Kota Kinabalu route. The flight covers a distance of 2,851 km, with about 9 departures per week, providing flexibility when choosing your travel dates.
Regular air service between the cities is provided by Shanghai Airlines and AirAsia. Since ticket prices depend on demand, we recommend using the price trend chart and the low-fare calendar to find the best deals for your preferred dates.
Below is a calendar of the lowest flight ticket prices for Shanghai — Kota Kinabalu by day. Pick a convenient date and instantly see the fare. The cheapest flights on this route start from $111 in e, and the most expensive are around $275 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.
Shanghai → Kota Kinabalu, average one-way price
| Month | Average price | Level | Month | Average price | Level | Month | Average price | Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | $243 | low | May | $300 | high | Sep | $268 | medium |
| Feb | $236 | low | Jun | $294 | high | Oct | $243 | low |
| Mar | $256 | medium | Jul | $307 | high | Nov | $230 | low |
| Apr | $275 | medium | Aug | $313 | high | Dec | $262 | medium |
Some values are estimated based on seasonality.
Weather conditions in Kota Kinabalu remain consistently warm throughout the year, with the highest temperatures seen in May and June (up to 29°C). The end of the year, particularly October and December, is considered the rainiest period, while the driest month is February.
Budget-wise, it is most cost-effective to plan your flight for October, when ticket prices start $111. Prices peak in February, when the minimum fare increases to $211 due to high seasonal demand.
September or April are optimal choices for a trip: these months offer a balance of moderate rainfall and affordable flight prices starting $127. We recommend avoiding bookings for holiday dates in February for maximum savings.
Two airlines provide regular service on this route, with Shanghai Airlines and AirAsia leading in the number of departures. A total of about 9 flights per week are operated, including direct flights and options with convenient connections. You can find detailed information about the flight schedule by day of the week and aircraft types in the list below.
Flights Shanghai — Kota Kinabalu depart from Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Shanghai Hongqiao International 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.
With an average distance of 2,851 km, a direct flight between the cities takes approximately 3 hours 40 minutes.
Regular flights are operated by Shanghai Airlines and AirAsia, providing about 9 departures weekly.
All flights from China land at Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI). Information on how to get to the city center can be found in the transportation section.
The lowest prices are often recorded for October. You can always check current offers and price trends in the low-price calendar on this page.
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