Flying from Sandakan Airport (SDK) to Tawau Airport (TWU): what you need to know
The average duration of a direct flight from Sandakan Airport to Tawau Airport is 40 minutes.
Sandakan and Tawau are both in the UTC+8 timezone. That means there's no time difference to consider.
Every week, there are ten Sandakan Airport to Tawau Airport flights. If you'd like to be on board as soon as possible, pick the 10:35 Malaysia Airlines flight. If you'd rather make the most of your time before flying, the last departure is at 10:40 with Malaysia Airlines.
For a stress-free journey, turn up at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and an hour before domestic departures. This way, you can comfortably catch your SDK to TWU flight.
Flying during a peak time like August? Major public holidays and other popular periods can lead to longer queues at airport checkpoints. Play things extra safe and get there up to four hours before international flights and two hours before a domestic departure.
Flying into Tawau (and then exploring more of Malaysia!) is a snap with Malaysia Airlines. This popular carrier offers direct flights from Sandakan Airport to Tawau Airport.
The majority of travellers choose to travel with Malaysia Airlines on this route.
Malaysia Airlines is the most punctual carrier that offers SDK to TWU flights. An impressive 88.52% of its departures on this route arrive as planned.
Pick a stopover if you'd love to break up your flight. Just uncheck 'Direct flights only' to see all your options for tickets from Sandakan Airport to Tawau Airport. Kota Kinabalu International Airport is a top stopover on the SDK to TWU route.
How to find the cheapest flights from Sandakan Airport (SDK) to Tawau Airport (TWU)
$53 is currently the best price for a one-way Sandakan Airport to Tawau Airport flight. A return flight starts at $107. These prices may change based on availability and demand.
Book eight months before flying. After crunching the numbers on our calendar, this is how far you should book ahead to find cheap tickets from SDK to TWU.
Plan your trip for July. That's the cheapest month for flights from Sandakan Airport to Tawau Airport. If you're flexible with your travel dates, try out the 'Whole month' tool to see the lowest price across every month.
Cut down on the time spent looking for cheap flights from SDK to TWU by setting up a Price Alert. You'll get an email or notification on the app when a new low fare is offered.
Find the ideal flight for you by using the filters. To see the 'Cheapest,' 'Best' or 'Fastest' flights from Sandakan Airport to Tawau Airport, use the 'Sort by' function. You can also filter by airline, arrival and departure times, and journey duration.
Handy information about Sandakan Airport (SDK)
Of all flights departing from Sandakan Airport, 74.17% land on schedule at their destination.
Sandakan Airport is around 6 kilometres from central Sandakan. If you're catching a cab, ride-sharing or driving from the centre, it'll take you 10 minutes or so to get there, depending on the traffic.
Need a handy hotel near SDK? If you've booked an early flight from Sandakan Airport to Tawau Airport, these stays will put you moments from your departure gate:
Arriving at Tawau Airport (TWU)
Get off your Sandakan Airport to Tawau Airport flight and be snoozing in your hotel bed shortly after. If you're searching for a handy option a short journey from TWU, unpack your bags at Afeny Homestay.
Getting from Tawau Airport (TWU) to central Tawau
From Tawau Airport, Tawau is approximately 31 kilometres away. It takes around 35 minutes to drive to the centre.
When to fly to Tawau Airport (TWU)
The quietest month for a flight from Sandakan Airport to Tawau Airport is February, while July is the most popular. Pick the ideal time to visit Tawau based on whether you prefer a laid-back vibe or a more bustling atmosphere.
The warmest month in Tawau is April, with temperatures ranging between 23ºC and 30ºC. Book your flights from Sandakan Airport to Tawau Airport in this month if you like this kind of weather.
For cooler conditions, look for a cheap ticket from SDK to TWU in February. Temperatures average between 22ºC and 30ºC then.
Explore more of Malaysia
Kota Kinabalu is just one of the many places in Malaysia waiting to be explored once you've taken in the sights of Tawau. Around 274 kilometres away to the north-west, its top attractions include DREAM, Bukit Kopungit Peak and Auditorium Galeri Azman Hashim UMS/Auditorium Sekafi.
Sandakan is another standout destination in Malaysia and is around 177 kilometres north of Tawau. No trip is complete without a visit to Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, Sandakan Memorial Park and Sandakan Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC).