RM 263 Find Cheap Flights from Penang to Kota Kinabalu – Compare and Save

Only AirAsia operates flights between Penang and Kota Kinabalu.

Flights from Penang to Kota Kinabalu usually depart from Penang Intl (PEN) and arrive at Kota Kinabalu (BKI).

Here are some options for this route, based on selected ticket types and cabin classes:

• AirAsia: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class

Bag allowance can vary by ticket type, cabin class, route, and airline, so travellers should check the fare details before booking.

Two cabin classes are available on flights from Penang to Kota Kinabalu:

• Economy class
• Business Class

On this route, stopover flights are cheaper than direct options on average. Stopover fares average RM 429 return via Singapore Changi (SIN), compared with RM 560 for direct.

There is no standard. Checked bag policies vary by airline on this route. Most carriers charge RM 42–RM 405 for the first checked bag in Economy. Premium fares and elite status bookings typically include a free checked bag.

The Airbus A320neo family is used most often on this route, operated mainly by AirAsia. Other aircraft seen on the route include Airbus A320-100/200 variants.

One-stop flights from Penang to Kota Kinabalu most commonly connect through:

• Kuala Lumpur Intl (KUL) – 71% of one-stop connections
• Singapore Changi (SIN) – 27% of one-stop connections
• Kuala Lumpur Subang (SZB) – 2% of one-stop connections

Kuala Lumpur Intl (KUL) handles the largest share of one-stop connections on this route.

Yes. Being flexible with your travel dates can save you up to 15% on the Penang to Kota Kinabalu route. Friday is the cheapest departure day at RM 535 return on average, while Sunday is the most expensive at RM 624, a difference of RM 89. KAYAK's flexible dates feature shows options up to 3 days before and after your selected dates, making it easier to compare nearby fares.

A flight is considered delayed when it departs 15 minutes or more after its scheduled time. This is the standard used by the US Department of Transportation and most airline industry reporting. On the Penang to Kota Kinabalu route, 35% of flights were delayed in the past 3 months, with delays averaging 1 hour 52 minutes.

Afternoon is the busiest departure period on Penang to Kota Kinabalu flights, with 50% leaving in that window. Evening departures account for 50%, Morning flights for 0%, and Night flights for 0%.

These are the earliest and latest flight times available from Penang to Kota Kinabalu:

• Earliest: departs at 08:10 and lands at 11:00
• Latest: departs at 19:55 and lands at 22:45.

The flight takes about 2h 50m.

Last-minute fares on this route (booked within 2 weeks of departure) run 27% above the route average of RM 566. Book 6 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

A direct flight from Penang to Kota Kinabalu takes 2h 50m, covering 2,809 km.

No. A passport is not required for this domestic route, but you will need a real ID-compliant driver's license, a state ID, or another TSA-accepted form of identification.

One-way fares from Penang to Kota Kinabalu are currently in line with typical prices for this route. Average one-way fares are about RM 328.

Morning flights have the fewest delays on this route. Delays tend to pile up throughout the day as one late flight pushes the next, so earlier departures are usually more reliable.

Flying via Singapore Changi (SIN) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time of 7h 34m, compared to 9h 01m via Kuala Lumpur Intl (KUL) and 9h 01m via Kuala Lumpur Subang (SZB).

Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI) hosts 5 major car hire companies, with daily rates starting from around RM 63 for economy cars. Top options include:
• keddy by Europcar
• GREEN MOTION
• Europcar
• KK Rent A Car
• Hertz

Return flights from Penang to Kota Kinabalu range from RM 446 to RM 753, with an average of RM 566 over the past 12 months. Anything below RM 446 counts as a good deal.