AirAsia solidifies Kota Kinabalu as its second-largest hub in Malaysia with new route to Seoul

SEPANG, 5 December 2023 - AirAsia today reaffirms Kota Kinabalu as its second-largest hub in Malaysia with the launch of its new route connecting Kota Kinabalu to Seoul (Incheon), South Korea. With the addition of Seoul, AirAsia Malaysia (AK) will fly to a total of 18 routes with 282 flights weekly from/to Kota Kinabalu from March 2024 onwards.

The new route will commence operations on 4 March 2024 with daily frequencies, making it even easier for travellers to explore the captivating cultural attractions, scenic beauty, and culinary delights of both destinations with great value fares.

This announcement comes on the heels of an impressive surge in Korean tourists visiting Sabah. According to recent data, Sabah welcomed about 150,000 Korean tourists this year, signalling a significant increase in the number of Korean visitors to the state. In addition, Koreans have now become one of Sabah's top visitors, emphasising their growing interest in the state's natural beauty and unique cultural experiences.

AirAsia Malaysia CEO, Riad Asmat said: “We are thrilled to be the first Malaysian airline to connect Kota Kinabalu directly to Seoul. This route holds immense potential for both leisure and business travellers, offering them affordable access to two remarkable tourism destinations. The launch of this route also aligns with our vision of connecting communities across Asia, fostering economic growth, and enhancing regional integration. 

“With this expansion, AirAsia further cements Kota Kinabalu as our second largest hub in Malaysia with nine domestic and nine international destinations, boosting the city's status as a vibrant aviation hub. The route launch is also poised to contribute significantly to the growth of tourism and trade in Kota Kinabalu and AirAsia is dedicated to expanding our network and making air travel more accessible to everyone.”

As part of the route launch, AirAsia is offering special promotional fares for travellers from Kota Kinabalu to Seoul with all-in* fares from RM349 one-way. The promotional fare is available for booking on airasia Superapp and the website starting today until 24 December 2023 for the travel period between 4 March and 26 October 2024.

Flight schedule between Kota Kinabalu (BKI) and Seoul - Incheon (ICN):

*The all-in fare is for one-way travel only including airport tax, MAVCOM fee, fuel surcharge and other applicable fees. Terms and conditions apply.