SDK airport: an introduction to Sandakan Airport

Sandakan Airport is the airport for Sandakan, the second town of Sabah on the east coast of Malaysian Borneo. It is the natural arrival point for travellers heading to the orangutans at Sepilok, the Kinabatangan River and the islands of the Sulu Sea. The terminal is modest in size, easy to navigate and close to town, which makes it a pleasant start to a Borneo wildlife trip.

Sandakan Airport code: SDK and WBKS

The IATA code for Sandakan Airport is SDK. This is the code you will see on tickets, baggage tags and flight search results. The ICAO code, used in aviation charts and by air traffic control, is WBKS. In Malay the airport is called Lapangan Terbang Sandakan. If you search for "SDK airport" or "Sandakan airport code", both lead to the same place.

The airport is operated by Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad, which runs most of Malaysia's commercial airports, so check-in, security and signage follow the same pattern as other airports in the country.

Flights to and from Sandakan Airport (SDK)

Sandakan is a domestic airport. Its flights connect the town with Kuala Lumpur on the Malaysian peninsula and with other towns in Sabah. There are no regular international flights, so travellers from Singapore or overseas usually connect in Kuala Lumpur or Kota Kinabalu.

Kuala Lumpur to Sandakan

Flights between Kuala Lumpur and Sandakan are the airport's main long-distance link, and they are what most people search for. Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia and Batik Air all fly this route non-stop. The flight crosses the South China Sea and takes around three hours, which is far quicker than any combination of ferry and road. Flights run in both directions, so the same carriers serve Sandakan to Kuala Lumpur on the return.

Sandakan to Kota Kinabalu

Kota Kinabalu, Sabah's capital on the west coast, is the other busy route. AirAsia and Batik Air both fly between the two cities. The flight is short, and it saves a long overland journey across the state on the road that winds past Mount Kinabalu. Many visitors fly into Kota Kinabalu, spend time there, then hop across to Sandakan for the wildlife.

Rural flights within Sabah

AirBorneo, which has taken over the rural air network previously flown by MASwings, links Sandakan with smaller towns in Sabah such as Tawau and Lahad Datu using turboprop aircraft. These flights are useful if you are heading to the dive areas and rainforest reserves of south-east Sabah.

Schedules change from season to season, so compare the current flights and times on Traveloka before you book.

Where Sandakan Airport is: location and distance to town

Sandakan Airport lies inland, to the west of Sandakan town. The official aeronautical publication puts it about 9 kilometres from the municipal council building, while travel guides quote a road distance of around 13 to 14 kilometres to the town centre, depending on where you start. Either way, the transfer is short compared with most airport runs in the region.

The airport's location on the western side of town is convenient for the main wildlife sites, which are also west of the centre and further inland, including Sepilok. Staying near Sepilok and flying out from SDK is a common plan for travellers who want to keep driving to a minimum.

A little history

The airfield has a sombre past. During the Second World War, Allied prisoners of war and forced labourers were made to build a military airfield at Sandakan. The prisoner-of-war camp is now the Sandakan Memorial Park, which remembers those who died in the camp and on the Sandakan Death Marches to Ranau. The airport later became Sandakan's civilian airport.

Sandakan Airport terminal and facilities

SDK has one passenger terminal, handling both departures and arrivals. It includes food outlets and shops, so you can pick up a drink or a snack before your flight. The layout is simple: check-in counters in the departure hall, security screening, then a departure lounge with gates.

The runway is 2,500 metres long, which is enough for the narrow-body jets that fly to Kuala Lumpur and for the smaller turboprops used on rural routes.

Arrivals and departures at Sandakan Airport

People often search for arrivals and departures at Sandakan Airport to track a flight. The most reliable way to do this is through your airline's app or website, which updates departure times and gate changes in real time. If you are meeting someone, the arrival hall is next to the pick-up area, so there is little walking involved.

Getting from Sandakan Airport to town and Sepilok

There is no rail link, and public buses do not serve the terminal directly. Most travellers use one of these options:

• Taxi: Taxis are available at the airport and are the simplest option with luggage.
• Grab: Ride-hailing through Grab operates in Sandakan and is a popular choice for getting to town or to hotels near Sepilok.
• Car rental: Car rental is available, a good option if you plan to drive to Sepilok, the Rainforest Discovery Centre or the Kinabatangan area on your own.
• Tour and hotel transfers: Many lodges and wildlife tour operators arrange pick-ups from the airport as part of a package, so check with yours before you land.

Some local minibuses pass along the main road near the airport, but they do not stop at the terminal and are not practical with bags.

Sandakan Airport travel tips

Check-in and security

For domestic flights from Sandakan, arriving about 90 minutes before departure gives you enough time to check in, drop bags and pass security. Each airline sets its own check-in cut-off, so read your booking confirmation. Travelling between Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia involves a document check, even on domestic flights, because Sabah has its own immigration controls. Malaysian citizens normally use their identity card, and foreign visitors should carry their passport.

Luggage on small aircraft

Rural flights on turboprop aircraft have tighter space for cabin bags than the jets to Kuala Lumpur. If you are connecting onto a small plane, check your airline's baggage allowance before you pack.

Busy periods

Flights between Kuala Lumpur and Sandakan fill up around school holidays and festive seasons, when many Sabahans travel home. Booking early and setting a Price Alert helps you catch a good fare.

What to see around Sandakan

Sandakan is the gateway to some of Borneo's best-known wildlife experiences, plus a compact town with plenty of history.

• Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre: Orphaned orangutans are cared for and returned to the forest here, and visitors can watch feeding sessions from viewing platforms.
• Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre: Next to Sepilok, it rescues and rehabilitates the Malayan sun bear, the smallest bear species.
• Rainforest Discovery Centre: Canopy walkways and trails through lowland rainforest, popular with birdwatchers.
• Labuk Bay: A place to see proboscis monkeys up close.
• Kinabatangan River: River cruises in search of pygmy elephants, hornbills and monkeys.
• Gomantong Caves: Limestone caves known for swiftlets, bats and edible bird's nests.
• Turtle Islands Park: Islands off Sandakan where green and hawksbill turtles nest.
• In town: Agnes Keith House, the Puu Jih Shih Temple on a hill above the bay and the Sandakan Memorial Park.

Ready to explore Sabah? Compare flights to Sandakan (SDK) on Traveloka and set a Price Alert for your travel dates.