Domestic Flights in Malaysia
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What are the best airlines for domestic travel in Malaysia?
The following airlines are Malaysian airlines which operate domestic flights within the country:
AirAsia
The AirAsia Group is one of the biggest airline groups within Asia. It's founding airline, AirAsia is based at Kuala Lumpur International Airport and flies to more than 15 destinations across Malaysia.
The airline is the biggest airline within Malaysia and the most popular choice when it comes to low-cost airlines. Other than its hub at Kuala Lumpur International, the airline also has secondary hubs at Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabulu, Kuching, Langkawi and Penang and flies domestically from all of these destinations.
On top of its domestic flights, AirAsia flies to more than international destinations too.
Malaysia Airlines
Malaysia Airlines is the national carrier of Malaysia and, while it doesn't fly to as many domestic destinations as it used to, still flies to 15 destinations within Malaysia.
Previously, the airline flew to more than 30 destinations across the country. But, with the launch of its subsidiaries FireFly and MASwings, scaled back on domestic flights and focused on expanding its international route network.
Malaysia Airlines is based at Kuala Lumpur International Airport and flies to domestic destinations including Alor Setar, Kota Bharu, Labuan, Miri, Sandakan and more.
Malindo Air
Malindo Air is a hybrid airline that is based at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. The airline is best known for connecting destinations in Malaysia with destinations in Indonesia. But, it has a pretty large domestic route network too, made up of more than 15 Malaysian destinations.
The airline flies to destinations such as Alor Setar, Ipoh, Kerteh, Malacca, Tawau and more.
MASwings
MASWings is one of the subsidiaries of Malaysia Airlines. Its main hub is at Kota Kinabalu International Airport and it offers domestic flights to destinations mainly within the Sabah and Sarawak states. MASWings has the biggest domestic route network in all of Malaysia and is the top choice when it comes to travelling to/around the Sarawak state. Overall, the airline flies to more than 20 destinations.
MASWings is an all-domestic airline, other than the one international destinations that it serves in Tarakan, Indonesia.
FireFly
FireFly is the other subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines. It is based at Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport and flies to eight destinations within Malaysia. It also has a secondary hub at Penang International Airport. From its hubs, FireFly flies to destinations including Johor Baru, Kuantan, Alor Setar, Langkawi and many more.
Amal Airlines
Amal Airlines is a charter airline and subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines. It mainly operates flights for the Muslim pilgramage community and flies to Jeddah and Medina during the Hajj season. Amal also flies to select cities in Malaysia and Southeast Asia including Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Kuching, Bangkok and Medan, among others.
What is a domestic flight?
Within Malaysia, a domestic flight is a flight that departs and takes off from one destination in Malaysia, such as Kuala Lumpur, which lands at another destination in Malaysia, for example Penang. Because tfhe flight never leaves Malaysian territory, the flight is a domestic flight because it stays within the same country.
Because a domestic flight does not leave the country, it will often mean that you are not subject to border and immigration controls. It also means that you are not required to use your passport. However, you will still need a valid photo ID, so many people choose to use their passport anyway. Read more about travel documents here.
Why book domestic flights in Malaysia?
Malaysia is home to huge bustling cities such as Kuala Lumpur, with impressive skyscrapers such as the Petronas Towers. However, Malaysia also boasts cultural UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as Penang, glorious National Parks such as Taman Negara and paradise beaches such as Tunku Adbul Rahman National Park. It is also one of the cheapest countries in Southeast Asia.
Malaysia is also a large country, measuring nearly 330 sq km. Domestic flights are also a great way of getting around due to the narrow shape of the mainland, and also the many islands such as Borneo.
Many people decide to choose to fly domestically within Malaysia, because it not only saves time as air travel is quicker, but also because it is often cheaper than other transport options, especially with the introduction of low-cost airlines.
Busiest Airports in the country
Based on 2018 data from Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad. Based on passenger traffic of people arriving, departs or passes through the airport.
| Rank | Airport | City Served | Passengers | Airlines |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kuala Lumpur International Airport | Kuala Lumpur, Selangor | 59,988,409 | AirAsia, AirAsia X, flyGlobal, Malindo Air |
| 2 | Kota Kibabalu International Airport | Kota Kinabalu, Sabah | 8,622,488 | AirAsia, Malaysia Airlines, MASWings |
| 3 | Penang International Airport | George Town, Penang | 7,790,423 | FireFly, Malindo Air, Malaysia Airlines |
| 4 | Kuching International Airport | Kuching, Sarawak | 5,564,722 | Malaysia Airlines, Royal Brunei Airlines, MASwings |
| 5 | Senai International Airport | Johor Bahru, Johor | 3,522,576 | Malindo Air, Thai AirAsia, Jin Air |
| 6 | Langkawi International Airport | Langkawi, Kedah | 2,735,703 | AirAsia, FireFly, Scoot |
| 7 | Miri Airport | Miri, Sarawak | 2,350,700 | AirAsia, Malaysia Airlines, MASwings |
| 8 | Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport | Kuala Lumpur, Selangor | 1,964,059 | Berjaya Air, Citilink, Malindo Air |
| 9 | Sultan Ismail Petra Airport | Kota Bharu, Kelantan | 1,688,625 | FireFly, Malindo Air, Scoot |
| 10 | Tawau Airport | Tawau, Sabah | 950,861 | Malaysia Airlines, Malindo Air, AirAsia |
FAQs
Do I need a passport for domestic flights in Malaysia?
A passport is generally only used when entering or leaving a country. Therefore, when travelling on a domestic flight you are not leaving the country and therefore you will not usually require a passport. However, because you will need a form of valid photo identification to check-in and board, many travellers will often opt to use their passport anyway. Please check the rules of the airline anyway, as some may have different flying rules.
What is the baggage allowance on Malaysia domestic flights??
The baggage allowance varies depending on the airline, route and fare you are flying. Check your specific allowance with the airline directly or on your eTicket, as sometimes the routes and aircraft travelling on may mean the baggage allowance varies. Also be sure to check the dimension restrictions of baggage, so that you are not charged for excess baggage.
What time do I need to check-in for a domestic flight in Malaysia?
Although the check-in times will vary depending on the airline and airport you are flying with, the check-in deadline time for domestic flights is often later than it is for international flights, as passengers generally need less time to get through the immigration and border controls at the airport.
Can I pay later for domestic flights in Malaysia?
Absolutely! At Alternative Airlines, we offer many flexible Buy Now Pay Later payment methods that let you spread the cost of your flights over time. With these plans, you can pay for your domestic flights in Malaysia on a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly basis (depending on the plan you've chosen). Some of the pay-later options we offer at checkout include Atome, BillEase, TendoPay, Klarna and Afterpay, among many others. Take a look at our guide on buying flights now and paying later for more information.
