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$529+ Cheap flights to Kota Kinabalu

This is the cheapest retur flight price found by a Cheapflights user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight departing on 29/8. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
— BKI
6 Feb — 13 Feb1
1 adult
1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

Flights to Kota Kinabalu in 2026

Find the latest flights to Kota Kinabalu in 2026, 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 7 January 2026.

Return from

$571

Popular in

December

Cheapest in

May

Average price

$896
Scoot
  • Scoot
  • 8/2-24/2
  • 2 total stops
  • 37h 50m total
  • Sydney to Kota Kinabalu
Search Deals
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 9% potential increase in price ($92 potential increase over avg. return price).
Search Deals
Cheapest flight prices on average. 4% potential price decrease ($40 potential savings vs. average return price).
Search Deals
Average for return flights in January 2026
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Find flight deals to Kota Kinabalu

Enter your travel dates to find the best prices.

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 7 January 2026.

Sat 29/820:50SYD - BKI
1 stop16h 25mScoot
Tue 8/912:15BKI - SYD
1 stop21h 30mScoot
Deal found 6/1$529
Sun 8/220:05SYD - BKI
1 stop18h 00mScoot
Tue 24/220:00BKI - SYD
1 stop19h 50mScoot
Deal found 6/1$571
Sun 8/213:35SYD - BKI
1 stop24h 30mMultiple Airlines
Tue 24/212:20BKI - SYD
2 stops29h 15mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 6/1$611
Wed 4/213:35SYD - BKI
1 stop24h 30mMultiple Airlines
Wed 11/207:00BKI - SYD
2 stops20h 15mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 4/1$627
Thu 5/220:05SYD - BKI
1 stop25h 55mMultiple Airlines
Thu 12/211:50BKI - SYD
2 stops15h 25mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 5/1$672
Sun 17/510:05SYD - BKI
1 stop34h 15mChina Southern
Thu 21/519:20BKI - SYD
1 stop15h 15mChina Southern
Deal found 4/1$682
Sat 29/813:00SYD - BKI
1 stop24h 15mMultiple Airlines
Tue 8/906:00BKI - SYD
2 stops27h 45mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 6/1$702
Thu 19/220:05SYD - BKI
1 stop25h 55mScoot
Thu 26/211:50BKI - SYD
1 stop21h 30mScoot
Deal found 5/1$715
Sun 12/420:50SYD - BKI
1 stop13h 55mScoot
Mon 20/420:30BKI - SYD
1 stop13h 15mScoot
Deal found 4/1$722
Thu 19/220:05SYD - BKI
1 stop25h 55mMultiple Airlines
Thu 26/207:00BKI - SYD
2 stops20h 15mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 5/1$728

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 7 January 2026.
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

Sun 8/2

20:05-11:05

1 stop18h 00m

Kota Kinabalu

Tue 24/2

20:00-18:50

1 stop19h 50m

$571

SydneyKota Kinabalu

SYD - BKI

SYDBKI

Sydney Kingsford Smith

Sun 8/2

13:35-11:05

1 stop24h 30m

Kota Kinabalu

Tue 24/2

12:20-20:35

2 stops29h 15m

$611

SydneyKota Kinabalu

SYD - BKI

SYDBKI

Sydney Kingsford Smith

Sun 17/5

14:15-18:20

1 stop30h 05m

Kota Kinabalu

Thu 21/5

19:20-12:35

1 stop15h 15m

$682

SydneyKota Kinabalu

SYD - BKI

SYDBKI

Sydney Kingsford Smith

Thu 19/2

20:05-19:00

1 stop25h 55m

Kota Kinabalu

Thu 26/2

11:50-12:20

1 stop21h 30m

$715

SydneyKota Kinabalu

SYD - BKI

SYDBKI

Sydney Kingsford Smith

Sun 12/4

20:50-08:45

1 stop13h 55m

Kota Kinabalu

Mon 20/4

20:30-11:45

1 stop13h 15m

$722

SydneyKota Kinabalu

SYD - BKI

SYDBKI

Sydney Kingsford Smith

Thu 19/2

20:05-19:00

1 stop25h 55m

Kota Kinabalu

Thu 26/2

07:00-06:15

2 stops20h 15m

$728

SydneyKota Kinabalu

SYD - BKI

SYDBKI

Sydney Kingsford Smith

Wed 4/2

20:05-11:05

1 stop18h 00m

Kota Kinabalu

Wed 11/2

20:00-12:20

1 stop13h 20m

$829

SydneyKota Kinabalu

SYD - BKI

SYDBKI

Sydney Kingsford Smith

Sun 12/4

20:50-01:20

2 stops30h 30m

Kota Kinabalu

Mon 20/4

20:30-19:35

1 stop21h 05m

$850

SydneyKota Kinabalu

SYD - BKI

SYDBKI

Sydney Kingsford Smith

Sat 17/1

20:05-19:00

1 stop25h 55m

Kota Kinabalu

Sun 25/1

20:00-18:50

1 stop19h 50m

$853

Flights are sorted by cheapest return flights first.

Deals found on 6/1

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 2 January 2026.

To ensure you get the cheapest price possible for a flight to Kota Kinabalu, you should look to book at least 56 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.

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 7 January 2026.
Read through reviews of airlines serving Malaysia, such as Malaysia Airlines and Scoot. Reviews also offer insight into each airline's entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
Malaysia Airlines
7.3
Good
289 reviews
Check prices

Overall

7.3

Boarding

7.6

Food

7.0

Entertainment

6.7

Comfort

7.5

Crew

8.1

Reviews

1 / 20
6.0
Good

Sandeep,Dec 2025

SYD - KUL

Food was really good. My entertainment screen wasn’t working and the crew couldn’t help despite repeated restarts. I would have appreciated a voucher to use for next time or inflight shopping.
Malaysia Airlines
7.3
Good
289 reviews
Malaysia Airlines
7.3
Good
289 reviews
Check prices

Overall

7.3

Boarding

7.6

Food

7.0

Entertainment

6.7

Comfort

7.5

Crew

8.1

Reviews

1 / 20
6.0
Good

Sandeep,Dec 2025

SYD - KUL

Food was really good. My entertainment screen wasn’t working and the crew couldn’t help despite repeated restarts. I would have appreciated a voucher to use for next time or inflight shopping.
Scoot
6.7
Okay
313 reviews
Malaysia Airlines
7.3
Good
289 reviews
Check prices

Overall

7.3

Boarding

7.6

Food

7.0

Entertainment

6.7

Comfort

7.5

Crew

8.1

Reviews

1 / 20
6.0
Good

Sandeep,Dec 2025

SYD - KUL

Food was really good. My entertainment screen wasn’t working and the crew couldn’t help despite repeated restarts. I would have appreciated a voucher to use for next time or inflight shopping.

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, Scoot 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 $67, while return flights cost around $110.

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

    For those looking to save time traveling to Kota Kinabalu, Brisbane offers the quickest one-way flight (11 hours 50 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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