Travelling from Taipei to Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI): What you need to know
Taipei is home to two main airports where you can kick off your trip. Check out your options for booking a flight from Taipei to Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI) taking off from Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) or Taipei Songshan Airport (TSA).
Around 3 hours 30 minutes is the usual time it takes for a direct Taipei to Kota Kinabalu International Airport flight.
Taipei and Kota Kinabalu (where Kota Kinabalu International Airport is located) share the UTC+8 timezone. That means you won't need to adjust your watch when you arrive.
Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) to Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI) is the busiest route, with 7 direct services every week. You can travel from TPE to BKI on AirAsia's 9:50am flight.
To ensure you catch your flight from Taipei to BKI, leave plenty of time to navigate the airport and find your gate. Arriving two hours ahead of international departures and an hour before domestic flights is the general rule.
High season means busier airports, so show up even earlier. Give yourself at least two hours before a domestic flight and four hours for an international journey to keep to your schedule.
Airports in Taipei
Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE)
Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) offers an easy route to your destination. Nonstop flights from Taipei to Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI) operate out of this terminal.
When departing from TPE, you can take a direct flight from Taipei to Kota Kinabalu International Airport with AirAsia.
AirAsia is the airline most travellers choose for flights from TPE to BKI.
AirAsia is the most punctual carrier operating on this route, with 79.66% of its services landing on schedule.
TPE is about 48 kilometres from central Taipei. If you're driving, catching a cab or ride-sharing from the centre, it'll take 40 minutes or so to get there, depending on the traffic. If you're planning to take public transport, expect the trip time to be around 1 hour 25 minutes.
Planning to catch an early flight from Taipei to Kota Kinabalu International Airport? Avoid the last-minute rush to the terminal (and enjoy a few extra z's) by picking one of these stays close to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport:
When it comes to the on-time performance of Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, data shows 74.72% of flights complete their journey on time.
Taipei Songshan Airport (TSA)
You can get to TSA from central Taipei in about 20 minutes by car (depending on traffic). The ride on public transport takes roughly 45 minutes to travel the 6 kilometres or so.
Taking off bright and early? Think about staying at one of these hotels near Taipei Songshan Airport the day before your Taipei to BKI flight:
The majority of flights that depart Taipei Songshan Airport arrive at their destination as expected. It boasts a strong on-time performance rate of 91.15%.
About Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI)
Consider booking a hotel near BKI if you're catching a late flight from Taipei to Kota Kinabalu International Airport. Select one of these options and say goodnight sooner:
Pick up a Kota Kinabalu International Airport rental car and explore Kota Kinabalu and beyond with your own wheels. NH Travel, Green Motion and Keddy By Europcar are popular outlets you can book with here.
To get the lowest price, reserve your vehicle around one week in advance of your Taipei to Kota Kinabalu International Airport flight.
How to find the cheapest flights from Taipei to Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI)
$104 is the best price for a one-way ticket from Taipei to Kota Kinabalu International Airport. A return flight starts from $194. These prices may change depending on availability.
To pick up cheap flights from Taipei to BKI, book early. Airlines usually offer lower prices when tickets first go on sale.
Affordable Taipei to Kota Kinabalu International Airport tickets are easier to find if your travel dates are flexible. Try using the 'Whole month' search function to compare fares across each month and then choose the cheapest day.
Never miss a deal on plane tickets from Taipei to BKI by setting up a Price Alert. We'll send you an email or notification through the app when a lower fare pops up.
Filters make it easier to track down a bargain for your flight from Taipei to Kota Kinabalu International Airport. Pick the airlines, flight times and stops that check all your boxes. Then sort the results by 'Cheapest' to find the best price quickly.
The best time to fly from Taipei to Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI)
It's time to figure out when to book your flight from Taipei to Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI). August is the peak month for travel to Kota Kinabalu. If you like your getaways a little more chill, head there in February.
The warmest month in Kota Kinabalu is May, with temperatures ranging between 24ºC (75ºF) and 31ºC (88ºF). Lock in your Taipei to BKI plane ticket then if that's your ideal forecast.
February has temperatures of between 23ºC (73ºF) and 29ºC (84ºF). Search for cheap tickets from Taipei to Kota Kinabalu International Airport around that time if you like cooler conditions.
More about Kota Kinabalu
When it comes to searching for somewhere to rest your head, you'll find the most popular stays in Kota Kinabalu right here. Explore these hotels after you've booked your flight from Taipei to Kota Kinabalu International Airport:
Every great adventure has to include a little sightseeing. Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park, Danum Valley Conservation Area (DVCA) and Sipadan Dive Centre Sdn. Bhd. Are essential stops on your Kota Kinabalu itinerary.
Explore more of Malaysia
Kota Kinabalu has plenty going for it, but there are so many other corners of Malaysia just waiting to be explored. About 225 kilometres east of Kota Kinabalu, a trip to Sandakan will keep your itinerary busy. Start with leading sights like Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary (Pusat Pemulihan Orangutan), Sun Bear Conservation Centre, Sepilok and Sandakan Rainforest Park.
Tawau is another favourite destination in Malaysia and is around 274 kilometres south-east of Kota Kinabalu. No journey is complete without seeing D'mount kinabalu adventure, Jungleland and Hot Springs Tawau.