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$304+ Cheap flights to Kota Kinabalu

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a Cheapflights user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight departing on 12/5. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
— BKI
27 Mar — 3 Apr1
1 adult

Flights to Kota Kinabalu in 2025

Find the latest flights to Kota Kinabalu in 2025, with up-to-date prices and availability. In the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made a total of 647,157 searches and data was last updated on 22 March 2025.

Return from

$536

One-way from

$304

Popular in

December

Cheapest in

February

Average price

$912
Scoot
  • Scoot
  • 18/8-30/8
  • 2 total stops
  • 37h 50m total
  • Sydney to Kota Kinabalu
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Scoot
  • Scoot
  • 12/5
  • 1 total stop
  • 24h 25m total
  • Sydney to Kota Kinabalu
Search Deals
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 13% potential increase in price ($256 potential increase over avg. return price).
Search Deals
Cheapest flight prices on average. 3% potential price decrease ($55 potential savings vs. average return price).
Search Deals
Average for return flights in March 2025
Search Deals

Find flight deals to Kota Kinabalu

Cheapest flights to Kota Kinabalu
Explore the most affordable flight options available to Kota Kinabalu. Find the lowest fares based on data from user searches, with prices last updated on 22 March 2025.

Mon 18/820:45SYD - BKI
1 stop16h 30mScoot
Sat 30/812:15BKI - SYD
1 stop21h 20mScoot
Deal found 20/3$538
Wed 28/512:50SYD - BKI
1 stop24h 25mMultiple Airlines
Fri 13/622:00BKI - SYD
1 stop20h 00mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 20/3$589
Fri 20/622:10SYD - BKI
1 stop15h 45mMalaysia Airlines
Wed 25/605:20BKI - SYD
1 stop12h 15mMalaysia Airlines
Deal found 21/3$845
Thu 22/511:20SYD - BKI
2 stops39h 10mChina Eastern
Fri 30/501:30BKI - SYD
2 stops29h 00mChina Eastern
Deal found 21/3$1,442
Mon 24/307:15SYD - BKI
2 stops16h 25mBatik Air
Fri 11/416:35BKI - SYD
2 stops35h 30mBatik Air
Deal found 20/3$1,507
Fri 20/610:10SYD - BKI
2 stops37h 25mPhilippine Airlines
Wed 25/605:20BKI - SYD
2 stops24h 40mPhilippine Airlines
Deal found 21/3$1,535
Tue 15/409:00SYD - BKI
2 stops35h 20mChina Southern
Mon 21/419:20BKI - SYD
1 stop22h 20mChina Southern
Deal found 20/3$2,512

Cheapflights Fare Finder

Locate flights to Kota Kinabalu that fit your budget, with regularly updated fares and availability. In the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made a total of 647,157 searches and data was last updated on 22 March 2025.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights to Kota Kinabalu that are best for you.

Fly from

Sydney

Route

Depart

Return

Price

SydneyKota Kinabalu

SYD - BKI

SYDBKI

Sydney Kingsford Smith

Thu 22/5

20:45-21:00

1 stop26h 15m

Kota Kinabalu

Sat 31/5

12:15-11:35

1 stop21h 20m

$624

SydneyKota Kinabalu

SYD - BKI

SYDBKI

Sydney Kingsford Smith

Thu 22/5

20:45-22:15

2 stops27h 30m

Kota Kinabalu

Sat 31/5

10:00-07:50

2 stops19h 50m

$665

SydneyKota Kinabalu

SYD - BKI

SYDBKI

Sydney Kingsford Smith

Mon 24/3

12:10-21:35

1 stop12h 25m

Kota Kinabalu

Fri 11/4

05:20-19:35

1 stop12h 15m

$1,209

SydneyKota Kinabalu

SYD - BKI

SYDBKI

Sydney Kingsford Smith

Thu 22/5

11:20-00:30

2 stops39h 10m

Kota Kinabalu

Fri 30/5

01:30-08:30

2 stops29h 00m

$1,442

SydneyKota Kinabalu

SYD - BKI

SYDBKI

Sydney Kingsford Smith

Mon 24/3

07:15-20:40

2 stops16h 25m

Kota Kinabalu

Fri 11/4

16:35-06:05

2 stops35h 30m

$1,507

SydneyKota Kinabalu

SYD - BKI

SYDBKI

Sydney Kingsford Smith

Sat 19/4

10:10-18:20

2 stops34h 10m

Kota Kinabalu

Sun 27/4

22:20-08:00

2 stops31h 40m

$2,881

SydneyKota Kinabalu

SYD - BKI

SYDBKI

Sydney Kingsford Smith

Mon 12/5

12:50-11:15

1 stop24h 25m

$304

SydneyKota Kinabalu

SYD - BKI

SYDBKI

Sydney Kingsford Smith

Mon 12/5

20:45-22:15

2 stops27h 30m

$325

Flights are sorted by cheapest return flights first.

Deals found on 21/3

Best time to book a flight to Kota Kinabalu

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to Kota Kinabalu with our price prediction graph.
Estimated return price
Rates are based on past data. Find the cheapest month and day to book your flight based on your travel requirements, then search for cheap deals.

Cheapflights Insights

Everything you need to know about your flight to Kota Kinabalu

When is the best time to book a flight to Kota Kinabalu?

Use this chart to determine the optimal time to book a return flight from Sydney to Kota Kinabalu. Price data was last updated on 21 March 2025.

To ensure you get the cheapest price possible for a flight to Kota Kinabalu, you should look to book at least 89 days in advance of your intended travel date. The price of your flight may increase if you delay and leave booking until a week or so before departure.

How long is the flight to Kota Kinabalu?

On average, a flight from Sydney to Kota Kinabalu takes 15 hours 45 minutes. Flights to Kota Kinabalu from other popular cities in Australia will vary in length. Below are a few examples of popular routes and their flight times.

What are the most popular airlines that fly to Kota Kinabalu?

The most popular airlines flying from Sydney to Kota Kinabalu are Malaysia Airlines, Scoot and Singapore Airlines.

Malaysia Airlines

Malaysia Airlines

From $520

Scoot

Scoot

From $325

Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines

From $620

What are the cheapest airlines that fly to Kota Kinabalu?

The cheapest airlines flying from Sydney to Kota Kinabalu are Scoot, Malaysia Airlines and Singapore Airlines.

Rainfall in Kota Kinabalu by month

Plan your trip to Kota Kinabalu by taking into account the average rainfall totals by month.

In terms of precipitation, rainfall in Kota Kinabalu ranges from 60.0 - 351.0 mm per month. October is typically the wettest month, when rainfall can reach 351.0 mm. February is typically the driest time to visit Kota Kinabalu when rainfall is around 60.0 mm.

Temperature in Kota Kinabalu by month

Plan your trip to Kota Kinabalu by taking into account the average temperature totals by month.

If weather is an important factor for your trip to Kota Kinabalu, use this chart to help with planning. For those seeking warmer temperatures, April is the ideal time of year to visit, when temperatures reach an average of 27.0 C. Travellers hoping to avoid the cold should look outside of January, when temperatures are typically at their lowest (around 26.0 C).

Reviews of airlines servicing Kota Kinabalu

Get insights into the airlines that provide service to Kota Kinabalu. Read reviews, discover amenities, and learn about the overall travel experience offered by airlines. Use this information to make informed decisions when choosing an airline for your flight to Kota Kinabalu. Reviews last updated 22 March 2025.
China Southern
7.5
Good
90 reviews
Check prices

Overall

7.5

Comfort

7.8

Crew

8.3

Food

7.4

Boarding

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Reviews

1 / 1
6.0
Good

Teak,June 2024

CAN - NRT

Boarding system very poor too much waiting and no system
China Southern
7.5
Good
90 reviews
China Southern
7.5
Good
90 reviews
Check prices

Overall

7.5

Comfort

7.8

Crew

8.3

Food

7.4

Boarding

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Reviews

1 / 1
6.0
Good

Teak,June 2024

CAN - NRT

Boarding system very poor too much waiting and no system
Malaysia Airlines
7.3
Good
251 reviews
China Southern
7.5
Good
90 reviews
Check prices

Overall

7.5

Comfort

7.8

Crew

8.3

Food

7.4

Boarding

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Reviews

1 / 1
6.0
Good

Teak,June 2024

CAN - NRT

Boarding system very poor too much waiting and no system
Philippine Airlines
7.2
Good
840 reviews
China Southern
7.5
Good
90 reviews
Check prices

Overall

7.5

Comfort

7.8

Crew

8.3

Food

7.4

Boarding

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Reviews

1 / 1
6.0
Good

Teak,June 2024

CAN - NRT

Boarding system very poor too much waiting and no system
China Eastern
7.1
Good
134 reviews
China Southern
7.5
Good
90 reviews
Check prices

Overall

7.5

Comfort

7.8

Crew

8.3

Food

7.4

Boarding

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Reviews

1 / 1
6.0
Good

Teak,June 2024

CAN - NRT

Boarding system very poor too much waiting and no system
Scoot
6.7
Okay
302 reviews
China Southern
7.5
Good
90 reviews
Check prices

Overall

7.5

Comfort

7.8

Crew

8.3

Food

7.4

Boarding

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Reviews

1 / 1
6.0
Good

Teak,June 2024

CAN - NRT

Boarding system very poor too much waiting and no system

FAQs about flying to Kota Kinabalu

Getting around Kota Kinabalu

There are minibus and van services which locals use to get around the town, and these are a budget-friendly option for travellers. Taxis are plentiful, but unlike the airport service, you will need to haggle to agree the fare you want to pay. The city is small and getting around on foot is relatively simple if you’re aware of traffic.

Getting Downtown from the airport

Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI) is the second busiest airport in Malaysia, and the main point of entry into Sabah for wildlife lovers who come for the famous orangutan and for divers who come for world class dive sites and great beaches.  The airport is 7 km from the city centre and most international flights arrive at the Terminal 1.  There is an hourly shuttle bus service from the airport to Wawasan Centre, and there is also a minibus shuttle.  There are also taxis available from outside each terminal. You can buy a taxi coupon to cover the fixed rate fare which you simply hand to your driver.

  • What airport do you fly into for flights to Kota Kinabalu?

    Kota Kinabalu (BKI), located 5.8 km from the city centre, is the airport you fly into when you book flights to Kota Kinabalu.

  • Can I find cheaper flights to Kota Kinabalu if I am willing to have stopovers?

    Yes, flights with stopovers are often cheaper than direct flights. Keep an eye out for flight deals to Kota Kinabalu on Cheapflights that require 1 or 2 stops for potential cost savings.

  • What is the best airline to fly to Kota Kinabalu?

    Based on reviews from Cheapflights users, Batik Air is rated the highest out of the airlines that fly to Kota Kinabalu.

  • What is the cheapest airport to fly to in Kota Kinabalu?

    Kota Kinabalu is currently the cheapest airport to fly to in Kota Kinabalu. One-way flights to Kota Kinabalu typically cost $32, while return flights cost around $59.

  • How much is a return flight to Kota Kinabalu?

    A return flight to Kota Kinabalu will typically cost around $223, however they can be found for as little as $37.

  • Where does the fastest flight to Kota Kinabalu depart from?

    For those looking to save time traveling to Kota Kinabalu, Perth offers the quickest one-way flight (12 hours 30 minutes).

  • Does Kota Kinabalu have car hire?

    Yes. Those touching down at Kota Kinabalu can take advantage of the car hire services offered upon their arrival.

  • Are there hotels close to Kota Kinabalu?

    Yes. Kota Kinabalu has hotels nearby for those requiring accommodations. Survivor Lodge Pulau Tiga is the closest property to Kota Kinabalu (0.0 km away from Kota Kinabalu).

See more FAQs

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