# Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI / WBKK)

**Kota Kinabalu International Airport** (IATA: BKI, ICAO: WBKK) is a large airport in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. It opened in 1943. It has one runway, 3,780 m (12,402 ft) long, asphalt. It is operated by Malaysia Airports. In 2021 it handled 1.1 million passengers.

Web page: https://dromopedia.com/airports/wbkk

## At a glance

- IATA / ICAO: BKI / WBKK
- Type: Large airport
- Operator: Malaysia Airports
- Serves: Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
- Opened: 1943
- Elevation: 3 m / 10 ft
- Coordinates: 5.9327, 116.0493
- Runways: 1
- Longest runway: 3,780 m / 12,402 ft
- Passengers: 1,106,165 (2021)
- Time zone: UTC+8 · Asia/Kuching
- Website: https://www.kotakinabaluairport.com/
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kota_Kinabalu_International_Airport (31 languages)
- Wikidata: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q645760
- Weather station: WBKK · WMO 96471
- Ident: WBKK

## Timeline

- 1943: Kota Kinabalu International Airport opens.
- 6 Jun 1976: 1976 Sabah Air GAF Nomad crash. 11 killed.

## Runways

| Ident | Length | Width | Surface | True headings | Lighted |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 02/20 | 3,780 m / 12,402 ft | 45 m / 148 ft | Asphalt | 023° / 203° | yes |

## Passengers per year

| Year | Passengers | Source |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2010 | 5,223,454 | Wikidata |
| 2011 | 5,808,639 | Wikidata |
| 2012 | 5,848,135 | Wikidata |
| 2013 | 6,935,797 | Wikidata |
| 2014 | 6,792,968 | Wikidata |
| 2015 | 6,573,461 | Wikidata |
| 2016 | 7,263,339 | Wikidata |
| 2017 | 8,006,446 | Wikidata |
| 2018 | 8,622,488 | Wikidata |
| 2019 | 9,443,275 | Wikidata |
| 2020 | 2,300,884 | Wikidata |
| 2021 | 1,106,165 | Wikidata |

## Routes

40 destinations in 11 countries. From the airport's Wikipedia article.

### Year-round (35)

- [LBU](https://dromopedia.com/airports/wbkl.md) Labuan Airport · Malaysia · 113 km / 70 mi · MASwings
- [LWY](https://dromopedia.com/airports/wbgw.md) Lawas Airport · Malaysia · 140 km / 87 mi · MASwings
- [BWN](https://dromopedia.com/airports/wbsb.md) Brunei International Airport · Brunei · 166 km / 103 mi · Royal Brunei Airlines
- [LMN](https://dromopedia.com/airports/wbgj.md) Limbang Airport · Malaysia · 170 km / 106 mi · MASwings
- [SDK](https://dromopedia.com/airports/wbks.md) Sandakan Airport · Malaysia · 222 km / 138 mi · AirAsia
- [MZV](https://dromopedia.com/airports/wbmu.md) Mulu Airport · Malaysia · 251 km / 156 mi · MASwings
- [LDU](https://dromopedia.com/airports/wbkd.md) Lahad Datu Airport · Malaysia · 271 km / 168 mi · MASwings
- [MYY](https://dromopedia.com/airports/wbgr.md) Miri Airport · Malaysia · 290 km / 180 mi · AirAsia
- [TWU](https://dromopedia.com/airports/wbkw.md) Tawau Airport · Malaysia · 292 km / 181 mi · AirAsia, Batik Air Malaysia
- [BTU](https://dromopedia.com/airports/wbgb.md) Bintulu Airport · Malaysia · 459 km / 285 mi · AirAsia
- [SBW](https://dromopedia.com/airports/wbgs.md) Sibu Airport · Malaysia · 608 km / 378 mi · AirAsia
- [KCH](https://dromopedia.com/airports/wbgg.md) Kuching International Airport · Malaysia · 802 km / 498 mi · AirAsia
- [MNL](https://dromopedia.com/airports/rpll.md) Ninoy Aquino International Airport · Philippines · 1,098 km / 682 mi · Philippines AirAsia
- [SGN](https://dromopedia.com/airports/vvts.md) Tan Son Nhat International Airport · Vietnam · 1,168 km / 726 mi · AirAsia
- [SIN](https://dromopedia.com/airports/wsss.md) Singapore Changi Airport · Singapore · 1,431 km / 889 mi · Scoot, AirAsia, Batik Air Malaysia
- [JHB](https://dromopedia.com/airports/wmkj.md) Senai International Airport · Malaysia · 1,454 km / 903 mi · AirAsia
- [KBR](https://dromopedia.com/airports/wmkc.md) Sultan Ismail Petra Airport · Malaysia · 1,521 km / 945 mi · AirAsia
- [KUL](https://dromopedia.com/airports/wmkk.md) Kuala Lumpur International Airport · Malaysia · 1,629 km / 1,012 mi · Firefly, Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia, Batik Air Malaysia
- [SZB](https://dromopedia.com/airports/wmsa.md) Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah International Airport · Malaysia · 1,637 km / 1,017 mi · Batik Air Malaysia
- [HAK](https://dromopedia.com/airports/zjhk.md) Haikou Meilan International Airport · China · 1,670 km / 1,038 mi · 9 Air
- [CGK](https://dromopedia.com/airports/wiii.md) Soekarno-Hatta International Airport · Indonesia · 1,698 km / 1,055 mi · Indonesia AirAsia
- [PEN](https://dromopedia.com/airports/wmkp.md) Penang International Airport · Malaysia · 1,747 km / 1,086 mi · AirAsia
- [HKG](https://dromopedia.com/airports/vhhh.md) Hong Kong International Airport · Hong Kong SAR China · 1,836 km / 1,141 mi · HK Express, AirAsia
- [SZX](https://dromopedia.com/airports/zgsz.md) Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport · China · 1,873 km / 1,164 mi · AirAsia
- [CAN](https://dromopedia.com/airports/zggg.md) Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport · China · 1,964 km / 1,220 mi · AirAsia
- [XMN](https://dromopedia.com/airports/zsam.md) Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport · China · 2,081 km / 1,293 mi · Xiamen Airlines
- [TPE](https://dromopedia.com/airports/rctp.md) Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport · Taiwan · 2,199 km / 1,366 mi · AirAsia
- [FOC](https://dromopedia.com/airports/zsfz.md) Fuzhou Changle International Airport · China · 2,257 km / 1,402 mi · Xiamen Airlines
- [HGH](https://dromopedia.com/airports/zshc.md) Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport · China · 2,741 km / 1,703 mi · AirAsia
- [CKG](https://dromopedia.com/airports/zuck.md) Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport · China · 2,822 km / 1,754 mi · Chongqing Airlines
- [PVG](https://dromopedia.com/airports/zspd.md) Shanghai Pudong International Airport · China · 2,867 km / 1,781 mi · AirAsia, Shanghai Airlines
- [FUK](https://dromopedia.com/airports/rjff.md) Fukuoka Airport · Japan · 3,415 km / 2,122 mi · AirAsia
- [PUS](https://dromopedia.com/airports/rkpk.md) Gimhae International Airport · South Korea · 3,510 km / 2,181 mi · Air Busan, Jin Air
- [ICN](https://dromopedia.com/airports/rksi.md) Incheon International Airport · South Korea · 3,662 km / 2,275 mi · AirAsia, Jeju Air, Jin Air
- [PKX](https://dromopedia.com/airports/zbad.md) Beijing Daxing International Airport · China · 3,733 km / 2,320 mi · AirAsia

### Seasonal (3)

- [DYG](https://dromopedia.com/airports/zgdy.md) Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport · China · 2,643 km / 1,642 mi · Batik Air Malaysia
- [PVG](https://dromopedia.com/airports/zspd.md) Shanghai Pudong International Airport · China · 2,867 km / 1,781 mi · Spring Airlines
- [ICN](https://dromopedia.com/airports/rksi.md) Incheon International Airport · South Korea · 3,662 km / 2,275 mi · Asiana Airlines

### Charter (1)

- [KWE](https://dromopedia.com/airports/zugy.md) Guiyang Longdongbao International Airport · China · 2,492 km / 1,548 mi · 9 Air

### Seasonal charter (2)

- [TFU](https://dromopedia.com/airports/zutf.md) Chengdu Tianfu International Airport · China · 2,970 km / 1,845 mi · Qingdao Airlines
- [KIX](https://dromopedia.com/airports/rjbb.md) Kansai International Airport · Japan · 3,732 km / 2,319 mi · Batik Air Malaysia

### Cargo (6)

- [BWN](https://dromopedia.com/airports/wbsb.md) Brunei International Airport · Brunei · 166 km / 103 mi · Malaysia Airlines
- [MYY](https://dromopedia.com/airports/wbgr.md) Miri Airport · Malaysia · 290 km / 180 mi · World Cargo Airlines
- [KCH](https://dromopedia.com/airports/wbgg.md) Kuching International Airport · Malaysia · 802 km / 498 mi · Malaysia Airlines, World Cargo Airlines
- [KUL](https://dromopedia.com/airports/wmkk.md) Kuala Lumpur International Airport · Malaysia · 1,629 km / 1,012 mi · Raya Airways, Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia, World Cargo Airlines
- [HKG](https://dromopedia.com/airports/vhhh.md) Hong Kong International Airport · Hong Kong SAR China · 1,836 km / 1,141 mi · Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia
- [NKG](https://dromopedia.com/airports/zsnj.md) Nanjing Lukou International Airport · China · 2,884 km / 1,792 mi · Raya Airways

## Airlines

The figure is how many destinations each airline flies from BKI, as the routes above have them. Hubs from Wikidata.

### Hub airlines (5)

- AK [AirAsia](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/airasia) · 21
- MY [MASwings](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/maswings) · 5
- MH [Malaysia Airlines](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/malaysia-airlines) · 4
- [AirBorneo](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/airborneo)
- LAY [Layang Layang Aerospace](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/layang-layang-aerospace)

### Passenger (17)

- OD [Batik Air Malaysia](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/batik-air-malaysia) · 6
- AQ [9 Air](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/9-air) · 2
- LJ [Jin Air](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/jin-air) · 2
- MF [Xiamen Airlines](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/xiamen-airlines) · 2
- BX [Air Busan](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/air-busan) · 1
- OZ [Asiana Airlines](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/asiana-airlines) · 1 · seasonal
- OQ [Chongqing Airlines](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/chongqing-airlines) · 1
- FY [Firefly](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/firefly) · 1
- UO [HK Express](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/hk-express) · 1
- QZ [Indonesia AirAsia](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/indonesia-airasia) · 1
- 7C [Jeju Air](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/jeju-air) · 1
- Z2 [Philippines AirAsia](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/philippines-airasia) · 1
- QW [Qingdao Airlines](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/qingdao-airlines) · 1 · seasonal charter
- BI [Royal Brunei Airlines](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/royal-brunei-airlines) · 1
- TZ [Scoot](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/scoot) · 1
- FM [Shanghai Airlines](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/shanghai-airlines) · 1
- 9C [Spring Airlines](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/spring-airlines) · 1 · seasonal

### Cargo (2)

- 3G [World Cargo Airlines](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/world-cargo-airlines) · 3
- TH [Raya Airways](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/raya-airways) · 2

Former hub of [Saeaga Airlines](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/saeaga-airlines).

## Rankings

Ranked among 48,075 open airports; = marks a shared place.

| Measure | Value | World | Region | Country |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Passengers | 1.1M (2021) | #786 of 3,974 | #238 in Asia | #2 in MY |
| Longest runway | 3,780 m / 12,402 ft | =236 of 29,858 | =73 in Asia | =5 in MY |
| Elevation | 3 m / 10 ft | =42,364 of 43,403 | =3,082 in Asia | =84 in MY |
| Age | Opened 1943 | =2,016 of 15,079 | =143 in Asia | #4 in MY |
| Runways | 1 | =4,364 of 29,978 | =185 in Asia | =3 in MY |

## Radio frequencies

| Type | Description | MHz |
| --- | --- | --- |
| A/D | KINABALU APP | 119.100 |
| A/G | KINABALU RDO | 682.500 |
| ACC | KINABALU CON | 126.100 |
| ATIS | ATIS | 127.400 |
| GND | KINABALU GND | 121.600 |
| INFO | KINABALU | 133.300 |
| TWR | KINABALU TWR | 118.300 |

## Nearby airports

- [WBKU](https://dromopedia.com/airports/wbku.md) Kuala Penyu Airport · 64 km / 40 mi
- [KGU](https://dromopedia.com/airports/wbkg.md) Keningau Airport · 65 km / 41 mi
- [WBKB](https://dromopedia.com/airports/wbkb.md) Kota Belud Airport · 67 km / 42 mi
- [RNU](https://dromopedia.com/airports/wbkr.md) Ranau Airport · 70 km / 43 mi
- [MY-0020](https://dromopedia.com/airports/my-0020.md) Marak Parak Airport · 86 km / 54 mi
- [MY-0018](https://dromopedia.com/airports/my-0018.md) Kuala Kahaba Airport · 91 km / 57 mi

## Sources

- [NOAA Aviation Weather Center](https://aviationweather.gov/data/api/): Weather data: NOAA Aviation Weather Center (Public Domain (US Government))
- [OurAirports](https://ourairports.com/data/): Airport data from OurAirports (Public Domain)
- [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org): Structured data from Wikidata (CC0 1.0)
- [Wikipedia: “Kota Kinabalu International Airport”](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kota_Kinabalu_International_Airport&oldid=1376624974), revision of 25 Sep 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- [timezone-boundary-builder](https://github.com/evansiroky/timezone-boundary-builder): Time zone boundaries © OpenStreetMap contributors, timezone-boundary-builder (ODbL 1.0)
- Every figure with its source: https://dromopedia.com/airports/wbkk/data