Cheap flights from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan from

Cheap flights from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan from

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How much do flights to Sandakan cost?

Cheapest nonstop round-trip

£59

Nonstop flights in May

£30 – £35

Most popular airline

AirAsia

Getting from Sandakan airport to the city center

Fastest options: taxi or ride-hailing services. Budget travelers often choose airport shuttle buses.

Sandakan is served by Sandakan Airport (SDK), located approximately 11 km west of the city center. As the gateway to wildlife attractions like the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, this airport sees steady tourist traffic. Airport transfers to city center destinations include taxis, ride-hailing services, hotel shuttles, and rental cars. Journey times typically range from 15 to 30 minutes depending on traffic conditions and your final destination within Sandakan.

Transport Option

Typical Time

Typical Cost

Frequency

Best For

15-25 min

RM 30-RM 45 (MYR 30–45 (USD 6–10); fixed fare to city center)

on-demand 24/7 (traffic dependent)

convenience and speed

15-25 min

RM 20-RM 35 (MYR 20–35 (USD 4–8); varies with demand)

on-demand (traffic dependent)

budget door-to-door service

15-30 min

RM 0-RM 50 (MYR 0–50 (USD 0–11); often complimentary or included)

by arrangement (traffic dependent)

hotel guests

15-25 min

RM 100-RM 200 (MYR 100–200 (USD 22–44) per day)

by reservation (traffic dependent)

exploring Sabah independently

15-25 min

RM 50-RM 100 (MYR 50–100 (USD 11–22); pre-booked service)

by reservation (traffic dependent)

groups or families

Notes:

  • Prices in MYR; table created in 2025 and subject to change.
  • Sandakan Airport is a small regional airport with limited public transport options.
  • Taxi fares are typically fixed from the airport; confirm the price before departure.
  • Grab availability may be limited during off-peak hours.
  • We recommend checking official transport websites for your travel planning.

Updated: December 2025

Key info about flying to Sandakan

Depart from
Kota Kinabalu International
Arrive to
Sandakan
Average flights per week
94
Flight distance
222 km

Weekly direct flights

Discover the top airlines offering direct flights from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan in the next month. You’ll find the number of daily direct flights per airline in the chart.

AirlineMon 04.05Tue 05.05Wed 06.05Thu 07.05Fri 08.05Sat 09.05Sun 10.05
AirAsia
5555555
Weekly flights: 35 totalDaily flights: 5 averageMost flights: Monday 5 flights
AirlineMon 11.05Tue 12.05Wed 13.05Thu 14.05Fri 15.05Sat 16.05Sun 17.05
AirAsia
5555555
Weekly flights: 35 totalDaily flights: 5 averageMost flights: Monday 5 flights
AirlineMon 18.05Tue 19.05Wed 20.05Thu 21.05Fri 22.05Sat 23.05Sun 24.05
AirAsia
5555555
Weekly flights: 35 totalDaily flights: 5 averageMost flights: Monday 5 flights
AirlineMon 25.05Tue 26.05Wed 27.05Thu 28.05Fri 29.05Sat 30.05Sun 31.05
AirAsia
5555555
Weekly flights: 35 totalDaily flights: 5 averageMost flights: Monday 5 flights

Check-in for a flight from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan

NameCarrier codeIATA CodePassport needed during booking
AirAsiaAXMAKNo
Air BorneoMWGMYYes
Malaysia AirlinesMASMHNo
Batik Air MalaysiaMXDODNo
FireflyFFMFYNo

Online check-in is not available for these airlines.

Weather in Sandakan

Average Weather

MonthAverage monthly max temperatureAverage monthly min temperature
January28°C24°C
February28°C24°C
March29°C24°C
April30°C24°C
May30°C25°C
June30°C25°C
July30°C24°C
August30°C24°C
September30°C24°C
October30°C24°C
November29°C24°C
December29°C24°C
Hottest Month
30°C
May
Coldest month
24°C
February
Sunny days
109
days per year

14 day forecast

Saturday
9 May
86%
32°C25°C
16 May
77%
31°C26°C
Sunday
10 May
89%
32°C25°C
17 May
31°C25°C
Monday
11 May
82%
32°C25°C
18 May
31°C25°C
Tuesday
12 May
87%
30°C25°C
19 May
86%
31°C26°C
Wednesday
13 May
88%
31°C25°C
20 May
79%
31°C25°C
Thursday
14 May
76%
31°C26°C
21 May
33°C25°C
Friday
15 May
88%
31°C25°C
22 May
69%
32°C24°C
The distance between Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan is 222 km. The most popular airlines for this route are AirAsia, Air Borneo, Malaysia Airlines, Batik Air Malaysia, and Firefly. Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan have 94 direct flights per week.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to travel from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan?
A one-way nonstop (direct) flight between Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan takes around 0.77 hours.
What is the flight distance between Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan?
The flight distance between Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan is 222 km.
What airlines offer nonstop (direct) flights between Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan?
Several carriers operate flights between Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan. Airlines offering nonstop (direct) flights include AirAsia.
What are the most popular routes to and from Kota Kinabalu?
Travelers frequently search for route combinations, such as Kota Kinabalu and Kuala Lumpur, London, Singapore, Denpasar, Kuching, Tawau, Penang, Cebu, Gunung Mulu National Park, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Lahad Datu, Manila, Ho Chi Minh City, Phuket City, Kota Bharu, Sibu, Hanoi, Taipei, Miri.
What are the most popular routes to and from Sandakan?
Travelers frequently search for route combinations, such as Sandakan and Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Bali, Denpasar, Johor Bahru, Bangkok, Penang, Tawau, Langkawi, Gunung Mulu National Park, Kuching, Manila, Bandar Seri Begawan, Sibu, Borneo, Hong Kong, Sydney, Phuket City, Davao, Labuan.
What airports are near Kota Kinabalu?
The main airport in Kota Kinabalu is Kota Kinabalu International. It is also served by Kota Kinabalu International, Lawas, Limbang.
What airports are near Sandakan?
The main airport in Sandakan is Sandakan. It is also served by Sandakan, Tawau, Lahad Datu.
Which airlines fly between Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan?
Currently, you can fly between Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan with AirAsia, Air Borneo, Malaysia Airlines, Batik Air Malaysia, Firefly.
When’s the best time to travel between Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan?
If you don’t have specific dates for your trip between Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan, you can enter a date range into the departure and return fields. Most carriers on the Kiwi.com website allow you to search and book up to six months from the day of your search. Order the search results by the best, cheapest, or fastest route, or find the cheapest outbound and return combination in the pricing table.
What flights operate between Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan?
How many airports are there near Kota Kinabalu?
How many airports are there near Sandakan?
What time do nonstop (direct) flights between Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan depart?
What time do nonstop (direct) flights between Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan arrive?
What time do flights between Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan depart?
What time do flights between Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan arrive?

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