AboutPartners[email protected]
Partners
Airport

BKI Kota Kinabalu International Airport

Reviewed & updated by יהב עטיה · About the team

Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI) serves Kota Kinabalu, about 5 km southwest of Kota Kinabalu. Below: trains and buses from the terminal, an estimated taxi fare to town and nearby cities, where you can fly from here, and hotels nearby.

IATABKI
ICAOWBKK
ServesKota Kinabalu
From centre5 km
Non-stop30
Airlines18
TimezoneAsia/Kuala Lumpur
Elevation3 m

See on map ↗

The airport in numbers

Kota Kinabalu International Airport — facts & history

We pulled Kota Kinabalu International Airport's numbers from the open aviation datasets — 1.1M passengers in 2021, against a peak of 9.4M in 2019.

Passengers / year
1.1M
as of 2021
Peak traffic
9.4M
in 2019
Elevation
3 מ׳
above sea level
Operator
Malaysia Airports
Passengers per year, 1994–2021

Figures: Wikidata (CC0)

Airport to city

Getting from Kota Kinabalu International Airport to Kota Kinabalu

The airport is about 5 km southwest of Kota Kinabalu, about 14 minutes by road in normal traffic.

Train & bus: Check in advance whether a train or shuttle bus runs from the terminal — at many airports it's the fastest and cheapest way into town.

Taxi & apps: Take a taxi from the official rank with the meter, or pre-book a ride on a known app. Avoid drivers touting for a fare in the arrivals hall.

Tipping: Rounding up is accepted almost everywhere.

Transport guidance is generic for this country — check exact details on the airport's own site.

Way inTime to centreCost
Train / bus~15 mincheapestCHEAPEST
Taxi~14 minmetered
Private transfer~14 minfixed upfront
Car rental~14 min + חניהfrom the terminal
Distances

From BKI to nearby cities

Estimated drive times in normal traffic, and an approximate taxi fare at the local tariff. A pre-booked transfer is usually cheaper.

DestinationDistanceDriveTaxi (est.)
Langkawi31 km44 min—
Choose and book

Which way suits you from Kota Kinabalu International Airport

Taxi

Cheapest for a short trip, one or two people.

Private transfer

Fixed price upfront, driver with a sign. For a late arrival, bags, kids or a group.

Car rental

If you're touring the region. Desks in the terminal, booking ahead beats the counter.

Train or bus is usually the cheapest — details above.

Book your airport transfer in Kota Kinabalu ahead, no terminal surprises.

Route network

Where you can fly from Kota Kinabalu International Airport

Non-stop flights to about 30 destinations, operated by 18 airlines. The busiest routes:

Airlines here: Malaysia Airlines · AirAsia · Cathay Pacific · China Southern Airlines · Japan Airlines Domestic · Dragonair · Korean Air · SilkAir · Malindo Air · Asiana Airlines

At the airport

Left luggage & lost and found at Kota Kinabalu International Airport

Most large airports offer left-luggage inside the terminal, usually by the hour or day and with a size limit. A common, cheaper alternative: in-city storage points near stations and sights — handy for an early arrival before check-in, or after check-out.

Something lost in the terminal is handled by the airport's lost-and-found office (usually near baggage claim); something left on the plane is the airline's responsibility. Keep your flight details, seat number and a description of the item.

Sleep nearby

Hotels near Kota Kinabalu International Airport

For an early connection — a hotel by the terminal saves a taxi and a headache.

Rates in Kota Kinabalu shift daily. See what your night costs now.

Reviews — Kota Kinabalu International Airport

No reviews yet — be the first to share.

Airports nearby

Other options near Kota Kinabalu

Same country

Other airports in Malaysia

Q&A

Answers to your questions

How do I get from Kota Kinabalu International Airport to the centre of Kota Kinabalu?
Check in advance whether a train or shuttle bus runs from the terminal — at many airports it's the fastest and cheapest way into town. The airport is about 5 km southwest of Kota Kinabalu, about 14 minutes by road.
Can I use a ride app from Kota Kinabalu International Airport?
Take a taxi from the official rank with the meter, or pre-book a ride on a known app. Avoid drivers touting for a fare in the arrivals hall.
What's the cheapest way from Kota Kinabalu International Airport to Kota Kinabalu?
Train or bus, almost always — usually a fraction of the taxi fare. Check in advance whether a train or shuttle bus runs from the terminal — at many airports it's the fastest and cheapest way into town.
Can I get from Kota Kinabalu International Airport into town without a car?
Yes. Check in advance whether a train or shuttle bus runs from the terminal — at many airports it's the fastest and cheapest way into town. For a late arrival or a lot of bags, a pre-booked transfer is easier.
Where can I fly non-stop from Kota Kinabalu International Airport?
About 30 destinations, including Hong Kong, Seoul, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur. 18 airlines operate here.
Can I leave luggage at the airport?
Most large airports have a left-luggage service, and there are also in-city storage points near stations and sights that are usually cheaper with no size limit.
Where is Kota Kinabalu International Airport's lost and found?
Items found in the terminal (not on the aircraft) are handled by the airport's lost-and-found office — usually near baggage claim or the information desks, sometimes one office per terminal. Anything left on the plane is the airline's responsibility. Current contact details are on Kota Kinabalu International Airport's official site.
How do I know which terminal my flight leaves from at Kota Kinabalu International Airport?
The terminal is on your boarding pass and booking confirmation, and updates on the departure boards at the entrance. Rule of thumb: each airline works from a fixed terminal, and airlines in the same alliance are usually grouped together. With a connection, check whether you change terminals and how long that takes.
Kota Kinabalu city guide← Malaysia travel guideAll airports

About this page

Written and checked by the Around the World team. We compare prices across the major providers, cross-check official sources, and update when something changes. We have no stake in any one provider — links are affiliate links, and the price is the same for you.

Sources: Airport data: OpenFlights (ODbL) · Route network: OpenFlights routes

How we work