Sandakan Airport Overview

Sandakan Airport (SDK) serves Sandakan, a port town on the east coast of Sabah in Malaysian Borneo. For many visitors it is the starting point for wildlife trips, from orangutan and sun bear centres to river cruises along the Kinabatangan. The airfield dates back to the Second World War and has since grown into a busy regional airport for eastern Sabah.

Location and Distance to Sandakan Town

You will find the airport roughly 13 to 14 km west of Sandakan town centre. A taxi or ride-hailing car usually takes around 20 to 30 minutes, depending on traffic. Handily, the airport is on the same side of town as Sepilok, so wildlife lodges there are a short drive away.

Terminal and Facilities at Sandakan Airport

There is a single, compact passenger terminal. It has check-in counters, a small selection of cafés and shops, ATMs, and aerobridges at some of the aircraft stands. The terminal has been expanded over the years, and the runway was lengthened so that it can take narrow-body jets such as the Airbus A320 family and Boeing 737.

Airlines Flying from Sandakan

Most flights link Sandakan with Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu. Airlines serving the airport include AirAsia, Malaysia Airlines and Batik Air Malaysia, while AirBorneo covers shorter hops within Sabah, such as to Tawau. Check the latest schedule, as frequencies can change.

Getting from Sandakan Airport into Town

• Taxi: taxis wait outside the arrivals area, and there is a taxi counter for fixed-rate rides.
• Ride-hailing: Grab operates in Sandakan and is a popular way to get to hotels in town or Sepilok.
• Hotel pick-up: many lodges near Sepilok and along the Kinabatangan arrange transfers from the airport.
• Car rental: useful if you want to explore the wider area at your own pace.

Public buses exist but are not very practical with luggage.

What to See Around Sandakan

The Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre is one of the main draws, with the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre right next door. In town, the Sandakan Memorial Park remembers the prisoners of war held in the area, and Agnes Keith House offers a glimpse of colonial-era life. Further afield, the Kinabatangan River is known for proboscis monkeys, hornbills and, with luck, pygmy elephants.

Travel Tips for Sandakan Airport

If you plan to visit Sepilok on the day you land, pick a morning flight and check the centre's feeding times. Sabah has its own immigration checks for travellers arriving from Peninsular Malaysia, so keep your passport or identity card handy even on domestic flights.

Planning a trip to eastern Sabah? Compare flights from Sandakan on Traveloka.