Hi, I've summed up all the key info for Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu flights

Cheapest one-way

US$ 98
Spring Airlines Thu, Sep 17

63% below next 30d avg. (US$268)

Cheapest round-trip

US$ 201
AirAsia X Sun, Oct 25

58% below next 30d avg. (US$476)

When to fly

October Cheapest month
July Peak month

Fastest flight

4h 10m 20m faster than avg. (4h 30m)

Recommended airlines

With a lowest one-way fare of US$98 , travelers can expect an average price of US$268 for upcoming trips, while round-trip tickets start at US$201 . Flights typically take around 4h 30m , but the fastest nonstop option completes the journey in just 4h 10m minutes. There are 22 flights weekly on this route. You can land at any one of the following hubs in Kota Kinabalu: Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI) . Flying from Shanghai Pudong International Airport to Kota Kinabalu International Airport (PVG-BKI) is by far the most common option on this route. To secure the best rates, booking 40 days in advance is recommended, and the cheapest travel days are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday .

Updated 2d ago · This content is an AI-powered summary based on Trip.com data. Prices and availability are subject to change. Please refer to actual prices, availability, and travel conditions.

Explore the cheapest one-way and round-trip flights from Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu over the next 90 days, with one-way fares from US$98 and round-trip from US$201. Based on Trip.com's latest 7-day flight data.

Flight.News
Flights from Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu operate an average of 7 times per day over the past 7 days, with a 43.6% on-time departure rate and a 78.9% on-time arrival rate.

Which airlines are the most popular for Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu flights?

The most popular airlines flying from Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu are China Eastern Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, and Spring Airlines, among 4 carriers on this route. Spring Airlines offers the lowest fares. Based on Trip.com's flight booking data from the previous 12 months.
China Eastern Airlines logo China Eastern Airlines
Shanghai Airlines logo Shanghai Airlines
Spring Airlines logo Spring Airlines
China Southern Airlines logo China Southern Airlines
Airlines are determined based on actual purchased flight tickets from Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu according to previous 12 months data from Trip.com.

Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu Flight Information

The distance between Shanghai and Kota Kinabalu is about 2,852.32 km. The average flying time from Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu is around 4 hours 30 minutes. Based on Trip.com's latest data, travel demand is highest in July. The off-season for travel is October.

Cheapest one-way flight price US$98
Cheapest return ticket price US$201
Cheapest month October
Peak season for travel July
Flight distance 2,852.32 km
Average flight time 4 hours 30 minutes
Popular airline China Eastern Airlines
Frequency ~14/week
Flight statistics for the Shanghai–Kota Kinabalu route are based on aggregated booking data from Trip.com over the past 12 months.

Trip.com Price Trends on Flights from Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu

Which month has the cheapest one-way flights from Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu?

Average monthly one-way flight prices from Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu, based on bookings made by Trip.com users over the past 12 months.

Based on Trip.com’s data, the cheapest month for flights from Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu is March, with an average price of US$162; while the month with the highest flight price is usually September, with an average price of up to US$297.

US$297
US$230
US$162
US$95
    Cheapest
  • US$297
    Sep
  • US$210
    Oct
  • US$197
    Nov
  • US$173
    Dec
  • US$191
    Jan
  • US$253
    Feb
  • US$162
    Mar
  • US$268
    Apr
  • US$212
    May
  • US$281
    Jun
  • US$225
    Jul
  • US$227
    Aug

Which month has the cheapest round-trip flights from Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu?

The average price of round-trip flights from Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu purchased by Trip.com users by month over the past 12 months.

Based on data from Trip.com, the lowest prices for round-trip flights from Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu are found during January, with an average price of US$337. Conversely, the highest prices are found during September, with an average price of up to US$629.

US$629
US$483
US$337
US$191
    Cheapest
  • US$629
    Sep
  • US$574
    Oct
  • US$395
    Nov
  • US$371
    Dec
  • US$337
    Jan
  • US$603
    Feb
  • US$338
    Mar
  • US$379
    Apr
  • US$536
    May
  • US$536
    Jun
  • US$496
    Jul
  • US$567
    Aug

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What are the cheapest flights from Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu (SHA-BKI)?

    Based on Trip.com data, Spring Airlines offers one-way fares as low as US$98 on Cheapest nonstop routes (e.g. PVG to BKI on Thu, Sep 17), while AirAsia X offers Cheapest nonstop round-trips from US$201 departing on Sun, Oct 25 and returning on Tue, Oct 27.
  • At the moment, you can catch a nonstop flight from Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu with the following airlines, including: China Eastern Airlines Shanghai Airlines Spring Airlines Selected airlines are based on historical data collected from flight bookings users made on Trip.com within the last 90 days.
  • It takes about 4 hours 30 minutes to fly from Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu.
  • By analyzing data from all airlines on the Trip.com flight calendar, it looks like the best time to book a flight from Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu is around 40 days (6 weeks) in advance, and the best time to fly is usually on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday. Tuesday typically offers the cheapest flights for departure, while Saturday offers the best return deals.
  • Based on Trip.com data in the past 4 weeks, there is 22 flight per week flying from Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu. You can check the weekly schedule for popular airlines on this route below: China Eastern Airlines: S/M/T/W/T/F/S -- MU8325 (17:41) Shanghai Airlines: S/M/T/W/T/F/S -- FM7223 (17:41)
  • To find best deals on flights from Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu, you can use various tools on Trip.com:
    · Be flexible with your travel dates to get the cheapest flight deal. Now the cheapest flight deal is on Thu, Sep 17, with one-way flights priced at just US$98.
    · Compare airlines strategically. Budget carriers often provide the lowest base fares, while we found the most affordable airline currently operating on this route is Spring Airlines.
    · Set up price alerts to easily monitor ticket prices without having to check every day.
    · Check Trip.com flight deals and promo codes frequently.
    · Avoid peak season unless you book very early. It seems the peak season for Kota Kinabalu travel is around July.
    · Get exclusive promo codes for Trip.com app users.
  • The cheapest months to fly from Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu is October, when demand for travel is lower.
  • After crunching the numbers on our September flight calendar, it's currently cheapest to fly from Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu on September 11, 2026 with AirAsia X Berhad, with prices starting at US$197.
  • You can land at any one of the following hubs in Kota Kinabalu: Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI). Flying from Shanghai Pudong International Airport to Kota Kinabalu International Airport (PVG-BKI) is by far the most common option on this route.
  • The time difference between Kota Kinabalu and Shanghai is 0m.
  • Tickets can only be changed or canceled if permitted by airline policy. To submit a change or cancellation request, go to the flight bookings page, select the option to change or cancel your booking, choose the relevant passengers and segment, and submit a request. Please note that additional charges may apply according to the airline ticket policy. However, if the flight has been rescheduled and you would like to change or cancel your ticket, you can submit an involuntary cancellation request. For more details about change and cancellation policies, please check the customer support pages.
  • Based on Trip.com data for flights departing in the next 30 days, the average one-way fare from Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu is US$268. Fares vary by travel date, airline and availability.
  • Based on Trip.com data for travel in the next 30 days, the average round-trip fare from Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu is US$476. The final price depends on the outbound and return dates, airline and fare conditions.
  • Enter Shanghai and Kota Kinabalu, choose your travel dates and passengers, then compare flights by price, duration and baggage. Select a fare, review the change and cancellation rules, enter traveler details and complete payment to receive your confirmation.
  • AirAsia Berhad (Malaysia) and Spring Airlinesare the most popular budget airlines flying from Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu. Check baggage, seat and payment fees before comparing the final price.

Trip.com Airline Insights on Flights from Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu

Which airline offers the cheapest direct flights from Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu?

Data is based on the average price of all nonstop flights from Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu on Trip.com over the past 12 months.

Based on Trip.com’s data from the past 12 months, Xiamen Airlines provides the lowest-priced direct flights from Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu, with fares starting at US$169.

US$118
US$169
US$221
US$272
US$323
Xiamen Airlines
US$169
Xiamen Airlines
Spring Airlines
US$205
Spring Airlines
AirAsia Berhad (Malaysia)
US$217
AirAsia Berhad (Malaysia)
China Southern Airlines
US$254
China Southern Airlines
Shanghai Airlines
US$307
Shanghai Airlines
China Eastern Airlines
US$323
China Eastern Airlines

Which airline operates the most flights from Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu?

Total flights from Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu across all airlines. (Based on Trip.com data from the past month)

Based on Trip.com’s data from the past month, China Eastern Airlines/Shanghai Airlines operates the most frequent flights from Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu, with 20 flights per week.

0
6
13
20
China Eastern Airlines
20
China Eastern Airlines
Shanghai Airlines
20
Shanghai Airlines
AirAsia Berhad (Malaysia)
7
AirAsia Berhad (Malaysia)
Spring Airlines
6
Spring Airlines

How many flights fly from Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu daily?

The data is based on the flight numbers for each day of the week from Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu within the Trip.com database over the past month.

Based on the past month's historical data from Trip.com, the number of flights from Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu is the highest on Friday/Saturday and the lowest on Sunday.

37
31
25
19
Highest
28
Mon
30
Tue
27
Wed
30
Thu
37
Fri
37
Sat
25
Sun

Note: Prices shown on this page are the estimated lowest prices found in the last 24 hours and include all taxes and fees.

Book with no extra fees

Prices displayed on this page are all-inclusive (incl. taxes, fuel surcharges, Civil Aviation Development Fund, etc.), and all fees are clearly shown before you pay. Charges for checked baggage, onboard meals, Wi‑Fi, and other optional services are also included where applicable in the flight cards.

Real-time pricing updates

Prices, availability, and travel details on this page have been updated within the last 24 hours, and for many routes are refreshed in real time. The more popular the route, the more accurate and up-to-date the data.

Change & Cancellation Policy

Trip.com shows the change and cancellation rules for each ticket during the booking process, including all related fees and conditions. Please refer to the following scenarios:
Voluntary cancellation/change:
To request a change or cancellation, go to the flight bookings page, select the option to change or cancel your booking, choose the relevant passengers and flight segment, and submit your request. Please note that additional charges may apply based on the airline’s fare rules.
Cancellation/change due to a flight schedule change:
If your flight has been rescheduled and you would like to change or cancel your ticket, you can submit an involuntary cancellation request. For full details of change and cancellation policies, please refer to the customer support pages.