The Airport Kota Kinabalu has the second busiest airport in Malaysia after Kuala Lumpur. The airport is the central gateway into Sabah. Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) handles flights from Kuala Lumpur and international destinations such as Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo, Manila, Bangkok, Taipei, and Brunei. There are also domestic flights to and from other Sabah cities like Sandakan, Tawau, and Lahad Datu. KKIA has two terminals: Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, with Terminal 2 having re-opened in January 2007 in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2007.

From Kota Kinabalu Airport A taxi costs around RM 30-40 and takes about ten minutes to the city center, which is 8 kilometers (5 miles) away. There is no urban bus service at the airport, but you can catch a minibus at the main road to the city center for around RM 2. Alternatively, book an airport shuttle for approximately RM 5-10 in a shared minicoach.