SEPANG, 10 January 2024 - AirAsia announces the continuous expansion of its Kota Kinabalu hub with the introduction of a new international direct route to Shanghai, set to take off on 20 February 2024. 

This announcement serves as a strong testament to Kota Kinabalu’s position as the airline’s second-largest hub in Malaysia. AirAsia Malaysia (AK) serves a total of 19 destinations encompassing both domestic and international routes. Shanghai, the latest addition to the growing list, is the sixth destination in Mainland China to be accessible from Kota Kinabalu, joining the ranks of Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Beijing, and Wuhan.

Bo Lingam, Group CEO of AirAsia Aviation Group said: “We are thrilled to kick off the new year with this momentous announcement, especially for our guests in Sabah. Following the government's visa-free entry initiative last year, this presents a significant opportunity to stimulate tourism between China and Malaysia. China, being one of our largest markets, boasts a total of 19 routes from Malaysia, with a remarkable 162 weekly flights from February 2024 onwards. Beyond expanding our Kota Kinabalu hub, this new international route reinforces our standing as the largest foreign low-cost carrier in China. We eagerly anticipate contributing substantially to the Sabah tourism sector as the state targets 2.8 million tourist arrivals in 2024.”

In celebration of the new route launches, AirAsia is offering promotional fares for guests to fly from Kota Kinabalu to Shanghai with all-in* fares from only RM288 one-way. The promotional fares are available for booking starting from today until 21 January 2024 for the travel period between 20 February 2024 and 29 March 2024.

AirAsia Malaysia (AK) currently also connects Kota Kinabalu directly to 3 other international destinations beyond Mainland China, including Singapore, Taipei and Hong Kong.

Flight Schedule between Kota Kinabalu (BKI) and Shanghai (PVG):

*All-in one-way fares are inclusive of airport taxes, MAVCOM fee, fuel surcharges, and other applicable fees. Subject to regulatory approval. The China visa free entry is valid for visits of up to 15 days and only applicable for Malaysians. Terms and conditions apply.