KUALA LUMPUR, 6 December 2023: AirAsia reaffirms Kota Kinabalu as its second-largest hub in Malaysia by launching its new route connecting Kota Kinabalu to Seoul (Incheon), South Korea.
With the addition of Seoul, AirAsia Malaysia (AK) will schedule 18 routes with 282 flights weekly to and from Kota Kinabalu, effective March 2024.
The new route, Kota Kinabalu- Seoul, will commence on 4 March 2024 with daily flights, making it even easier for travellers to explore both destinations.
The airline’s 5 December 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 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 commented: “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.”
AirAsia offers special promotional fares for travellers from Kota Kinabalu to Seoul with all-in* fares from MYR349 one-way as part of the route launch. 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.
*The all-in fare is for one-way travel only and includes airport tax, MAVCOM fee, fuel surcharge, and other applicable fees.
Flight schedule between Kota Kinabalu (BKI) and Seoul – Incheon (ICN):
