Flights to Malaysia: Airports, Routes and Booking Tips

Finding flights to Malaysia is rarely difficult. Kuala Lumpur is one of Asia’s best-connected airports, served by full-service airlines from Europe, the Middle East and Australia and by a huge network of low-cost flights around the region. The trick is choosing the right airport, terminal and airline for your route, especially if you plan to visit Penang, Langkawi or Borneo.

Main international airports

Airport	Code	Serves
Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA)	KUL	Kuala Lumpur and the whole country; main long-haul gateway
Penang International Airport	PEN	George Town and Penang
Langkawi International Airport	LGK	Langkawi
Kota Kinabalu International Airport	BKI	Sabah
Kuching International Airport	KCH	Sarawak
Senai International Airport	JHB	Johor Bahru and the south
Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport (Subang)	SZB	Kuala Lumpur, regional and domestic flights

Flying to Kuala Lumpur (KLIA)

KLIA, about 45km south of the city, is the main entry point for flights to Malaysia and the base for Malaysia Airlines, Batik Air Malaysia, AirAsia and long-haul AirAsia X. It handled more than 63 million passengers in 2025 and is consistently ranked among the world’s best-connected airports.

It has two separate terminals. Terminal 1 is used by Malaysia Airlines and most full-service international carriers. Terminal 2 (formerly klia2) is the home of AirAsia and other low-cost airlines. They are not connected airside, so check your terminal carefully, and allow plenty of time if you need to transfer between them. Our guide to KLIA to Kuala Lumpur explains getting into the city.

Routes from Europe, the Middle East and Australia

From Europe, Malaysia Airlines flies non-stop from London, and many travellers connect via the Gulf (Doha, Dubai and Abu Dhabi), Istanbul or Asian hubs such as Singapore, Bangkok and Hong Kong. A one-stop itinerary through a hub is often cheaper than a non-stop and can let you fly into Kuala Lumpur and home from Penang or Kota Kinabalu.

From Australia and New Zealand, there are direct flights to KL from several major cities, on both full-service and low-cost airlines. Low-cost long-haul fares can look very cheap, but check what is included before you compare.

Low-cost carriers and regional flights

Malaysia is the home of AirAsia, and low-cost travel is deeply rooted here. AirAsia, Batik Air and others link KL with cities across Southeast Asia, China, India and beyond, often for little money. Domestic flights from KL to Penang, Langkawi, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching are frequent and are the only practical way to reach Borneo.

Subang Airport (SZB), closer to central KL than KLIA, has seen a revival in recent years, with jet services reintroduced in 2024. Airlines such as Firefly, Batik Air and Scoot fly from there to Singapore and domestic destinations. It can be a convenient alternative for short trips, but routes change often.

Flying into Penang, Langkawi and Borneo

Penang and Langkawi receive international flights mainly from elsewhere in Asia, including Singapore. Kota Kinabalu and Kuching also have regional international links, which makes an open-jaw trip practical: fly into KL and out of Borneo, or the reverse, to avoid backtracking. See our 2-week itinerary with Borneo for a route that uses this.

Remember that Sabah and Sarawak have their own immigration controls, so you need your passport even on domestic flights from the Peninsula. Our guide to Malaysia entry requirements explains this.

Choosing your arrival airport

• First trip, cities and food: fly into KLIA and out of Penang, or the reverse.
• Beach holiday on Langkawi: connect via KL or Singapore straight to Langkawi.
• Borneo wildlife and Mount Kinabalu: connect to Kota Kinabalu, or to Kuching for Sarawak’s parks.
• Legoland and southern Malaysia: consider Senai, or fly to Singapore and cross by road.
• East coast islands: fly from KL to Kota Bharu for the Perhentians or Kuala Terengganu for Redang, then continue by road and boat.

Booking tips for flights to Malaysia

• Check the terminal. Many missed connections in KL come from travellers going to the wrong terminal.
• Add luggage at booking. On low-cost airlines, checked bags, seats and meals cost extra and are cheaper when bought in advance.
• Be careful with separate tickets. If you combine a long-haul ticket with a separate low-cost flight, the second airline will not wait if the first is late. Leave several hours, or ideally an overnight stop, and remember you will need to clear immigration and recheck bags.
• Consider Singapore. Flying into Singapore and crossing to Johor Bahru by road or rail is a good option for southern Malaysia.
• Avoid peak dates. Fares rise around Chinese New Year, Hari Raya, the year-end holidays and school holidays.
• Submit your MDAC. Most foreign visitors must complete the free Malaysia Digital Arrival Card before arriving, and airlines may ask to see it at check-in.

When to book

For long-haul flights, booking a few months ahead usually gives a good choice of fares, especially for December to March, the peak season on the west coast. Low-cost airlines run frequent sales, so if your dates are flexible, it pays to watch their websites. Time your trip with our guide to the best time to visit Malaysia, and once you land, our getting around Malaysia guide covers the rest of the journey.