CNS

$100 Find Cheap Flights to Cairns

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight to Cairns departing on 12/5. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel. Click the price to replicate the search for this deal.
1 adult
1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

KAYAK searches hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to Cairns

 
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results for flights to Cairns
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results for flights to Cairns
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Everything you should know

Cheapest return fare
$172
Typical prices: $195-$295
Jetstar
Mon 12/1Wed 21/1
BNE - CNS • Direct
Cheapest direct flights
$177
Typical prices: $206-$302
Jetstar
Fri 23/1Thu 29/1
BNE - CNS • Direct
Our travellers' advice
AI-powered summary based on content written by KAYAK users. AI can make mistakes.
Bring a tablet and snacks on Virgin Australia flights.
Pack a charging cable for Sydney to Cairns flights.
User tips
User tips
User tips
User tips
Top airlines
Qantas Airways
Most flights • 143 per week
Rex
Best reviews • 9.4 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
+1
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
Top routes
OOL-CNS
Cheapest
MEL-CNS
Most popular
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to travel
March
Cheapest • 27% price drop
July
Most popular
Good to know
Good to know
+1
+1
Good to know
Good to know
+1
Start a new search
KAYAK searches hundreds of sites at once to find you the best travel deals.
We hope you love your trip to Cairns!
Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights to Cairns

 
Here are some of the best deals found on KAYAK recently from the most popular airlines for return flights to Cairns that are departing in the next months. While these flights were available on KAYAK in the last 72 hours, prices and availability are subject to change and deals may expire.
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.

Recent return flight deals to Cairns

Mon, 12 Jan - Wed, 21 Jan
Jetstar Logo
07:05 - 09:20
BNE
-
CNS
2h 15mdirect
Jetstar Logo
06:00 - 08:15
CNS
-
BNE
2h 15mdirect
$172Jetstar
Tue, 13 Jan - Sat, 17 Jan
Jetstar Logo
18:35 - 20:55
BNE
-
CNS
2h 20mdirect
Jetstar Logo
06:00 - 08:15
CNS
-
BNE
2h 15mdirect
$175Jetstar
Fri, 23 Jan - Thu, 29 Jan
Jetstar Logo
15:00 - 17:15
BNE
-
CNS
2h 15mdirect
Jetstar Logo
06:00 - 08:15
CNS
-
BNE
2h 15mdirect
$177Jetstar
Fri, 23 Jan - Tue, 27 Jan
Multiple Airlines Logo
20:40 - 23:05
BNE
-
CNS
2h 25mdirect
Multiple Airlines Logo
06:00 - 08:15
CNS
-
BNE
2h 15mdirect
$178Multiple Airlines
Wed, 11 Mar - Sun, 15 Mar
Virgin Australia Logo
08:35 - 11:00
BNE
-
CNS
2h 25mdirect
Virgin Australia Logo
17:20 - 19:40
CNS
-
BNE
2h 20mdirect
$185Virgin Australia
Sun, 11 Jan - Thu, 15 Jan
Rex Logo
10:05 - 11:10
TSV
-
CNS
1h 05mdirect
Rex Logo
16:10 - 17:10
CNS
-
TSV
1h 00mdirect
$278Rex
Sun, 18 Jan - Sun, 25 Jan
Rex Logo
10:05 - 11:10
TSV
-
CNS
1h 05mdirect
Rex Logo
08:05 - 09:05
CNS
-
TSV
1h 00mdirect
$284Rex
Fri, 23 Jan - Fri, 30 Jan
Airnorth Logo
08:15 - 15:30
PER
-
CNS
5h 15m1 stop
Airnorth Logo
12:35 - 16:40
CNS
-
PER
6h 05m1 stop
$454Airnorth
Fri, 19 Dec - Wed, 7 Jan
Qantas Airways Logo
17:30 - 18:30
TSV
-
CNS
1h 00mdirect
Qantas Airways Logo
17:55 - 18:55
CNS
-
TSV
1h 00mdirect
$464Qantas Airways
Fri, 16 Jan - Fri, 23 Jan
Airnorth Logo
08:00 - 12:00
DRW
-
CNS
3h 30m1 stop
Airnorth Logo
16:00 - 19:00
CNS
-
DRW
3h 30m1 stop
$507Airnorth
Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for flights to Cairns

Get data-powered insights and trends into flights to Cairns to help you find the cheapest flights, the best time to fly and much more.

What is the cheapest flight to Cairns?

These are the best round-trip prices found by users searching on KAYAK in the last 72 hours.

In the last 3 days, the cheapest flight deal to Cairns was found on the route from Coolangatta, at $100 one-way and $172 return. The most popular connection is from Melbourne to Cairns and KAYAK users have found return deals for as low as $239 in the last 3 days.

How much is a flight to Cairns?

The average and cheapest price for all round-trip flights to Cairns from each origin found by users searching on KAYAK in the last month.

On average, a flight to Cairns costs $313. The cheapest price found on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks cost $85 and departed from Maroochydore. The most popular routes on KAYAK are Brisbane to Cairns which costs $370 on average, and Melbourne to Cairns, which costs $326 on average.

See prices from:

What is the cheapest month to fly to Cairns?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for flights to Cairns, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the median of all values for each month.

The cheapest month for flights to Cairns is February, where tickets cost $505 on average for one-way flights. On the other hand, the most expensive months are July and October, where the average cost of tickets from Australia is $753 and $752 respectively. For return trips, the best month to travel is March with an average price of $228.

What is a good deal for flights to Cairns?

If you’re looking for cheap airfare to Cairns, 25% of our users found tickets to Cairns for the following prices or less: From Maroochydore $100 one-way - $179 return, from Coolangatta $101 one-way - $209 return, from Melbourne Airport $151 one-way - $245 return.

How far in advance should I book a flight to Cairns?

To calculate weekly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each week before departure over the last year for round-trip flights to Cairns, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the average of all the values for each week.

To get a below average price, you should book around 2 weeks before departure. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 30 days before departure.

Good to know – Book Cheap Cairns Plane Tickets

Low seasonFebruary
Cheapest flight$100
Best time to beat the crowds (8% less expensive on average)
Most popular time to fly (11% more expensive on average)
Flight from Coolangatta to Cairns

When to book flights to Cairns

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel to Cairns based on our flight data from the last year. Discover the cheapest month and even day to fly.
Estimated return price
KAYAK looks at all historical flight data for each date to provide a predicted price for one-way trips or returns with a duration up to 40 days. The information is for flights to Cairns based on your location. While we try to provide actual minimum prices for each date, some prices are predictions and actual prices may differ.

Flights to Cairns: the best tips from KAYAK users' own experiences

Insights shared by verified travellers who flew to Cairns 
AndrewFlew with Virgin Australia
MEL
-
CNS
June 2025
Save up and fly business. Sounds ridiculous,but if you are tall, it would be better.
Verified travelerFlew with Virgin Australia
SYD
-
CNS
Nov 2024
Bring a tablet, ear phones, charging cable and some snacks for when on the flight.

FAQs - booking Cairns flights

  • I have someone picking me up, what are the parking options at Cairns Airport?

    There are three car parks servicing Cairns Airport: T1 Budget, T2 Domestic and T2 Covered. They vary in distance to the terminals, from about a 2min to 7min walk. If you are in need of parking at Cairns Airport, be sure to book online in advance to save up to 40% on costs.

  • What kind of facilities are there for those travelling with children at Cairns Airport?

    There are changing facilities and parenting rooms in both terminals, both before and after security. There are some baby supplies in the convenience shops of the airport, if needed, and any of the cafes or restaurants will happily assist with hot water for bottles. There is no play area; although, a trip to Lego Kaboom may be a fun way for older kids to burn off some energy and maybe find an activity for a long flight or drive.

  • How can you travel into Cairns from the airport?

    Cairns Airport is very close to downtown Cairns, situated only a 10-minute drive from the waterfront. To get there you can take the Airport Connect bus service, run by Sun Palm Transport; purchase tickets online or stop at the transport desk. The bus will take you to the Tobruk Pool bus stop where you can transfer to another service to take you across the city.

  • What shopping options are there at Cairns Airport?

    For those looking for shopping opportunities at Cairns Airport you can find a wide range of products in either terminal, whether it is duty-free technology from Tech2Go, beauty from MAC or souvenirs from Australian Made or Discover Dreamtime.

  • Which hotels are near to Cairns Airport?

    If your flight to Cairns is only for transit or you’re looking for a hotel convenient to the airport, there are a number of options very close by. You can find some luxury 4- or 5-star hotels along the waterfront, such as the Waterfront Suites with its picturesque views or the upmarket Shangri-La Hotel. For those on a budget, the Nomads Cairns Hostel is also nearby.

  • What are some of the dining options at Cairns Airport?

    If you need a bite to eat while you’re at the airport, you can find a number of dining options throughout the terminals. For those craving a good bar and grill, you’ll find the Great Northern Bar in Terminal 2, not far from Hungry Jacks. Otherwise, if you’re after a coffee or a quick bite to eat, track down one of the Grinders Coffee Carts.

  • What is the cheapest flight to Cairns?

    In the last 3 days, the cheapest flight deal to Cairns was found on the route from Coolangatta, at $100 one-way and $172 return. The most popular connection is from Melbourne to Cairns and KAYAK users have found return deals for as low as $239 in the last 3 days.

  • How far is Cairns Airport from central Cairns?

    You’ll need to travel 4 km to reach the Cairns city centre from Cairns Airport.

  • What is the name of Cairns’s airport?

    All flights to Cairns land at Cairns Airport. The airport code is CNS,and it can also be referred to as Cairns or Cairns Intl.

  • How much is a flight to Cairns?

    On average, a flight to Cairns costs $313. The cheapest price found on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks cost $85 and departed from Maroochydore Sunshine Coast Airport.

  • What is the cheapest day to fly to Cairns?

    Based on KAYAK data, the cheapest day to fly to Cairns is Tuesday where tickets can be as cheap as $350. On the other hand, the most expensive day to fly is Sunday, where prices are $408 on average.

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights to Cairns?

    KAYAK is a travel search engine. That means we look across the web to find the best prices we can find for our users. With over 2 billion flight queries processed yearly, we are able to display a variety of prices and options on flights to Cairns.

  • How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket to Cairns?

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to Cairns is likely to change within 7 days, so travellers know whether to wait or book now.

  • What is the Hacker Fare option on flights to Cairns?

    Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets in order to save you money over a traditional round-trip ticket. You could then fly to Cairns with an airline and back with another airline.

  • What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight to Cairns?

    Sometimes travel dates aren't set in stone. If your preferred travel dates have some wiggle room, flexible dates will show you all the options when flying to Cairns up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

  • What is the cheapest time of day to fly to Cairns?

    The cheapest time of day to fly to Cairns is generally in the evening, when flights cost $286 on average. The most expensive time of day to fly to Cairns is generally in the afternoon, which is peak travel time and where the average cost of a ticket is $363.

Top tips for finding cheap flights to Cairns

  • Looking for cheap airfare to Cairns? 25% of our users found return tickets to Cairns for the following prices or less: From Maroochydore $139, from Horn Island $231, from Melbourne $662
  • Enter your preferred departure airport and travel dates into the search form above to unlock the latest Cairns flight deals.
  • If you are in need of any assistance, directions, advice or travel information once you’ve arrived at Cairns Airport (CNS), keep an eye out for staff in blue shirts. These are Airport Ambassadors, a team of volunteer staff who dedicate their time to assist those travelling into Cairns, to ensure they have a memorable time with tips from locals.
  • There is a good range of services for car hire at Cairns Airport, and KAYAK can help you find the deals. Once you’ve entered your preferred dates and hit the search button above, you can click ‘Cars’ from the menu on the left of the page to search for Cairns Airport car hire.
  • As a busy destination airport, serving as a gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and many surrounding cities, this small airport does get busy. You will find that if you are transiting through here on a weekend, you will have less fellow travellers to queue with.
  • There are two terminals in Cairns Airport: Terminal 1 serves the international routes and Terminal 2 the domestic travellers. If you are continuing your journey from Cairns Airport, the easiest way to get between the two terminals is to walk. It takes about 10 minutes and all you need to do is to follow the Green Line.
  • If you find yourself in transit at Cairns Airport, there are three premium passenger lounges. Terminal 1 has a passenger lounge run by Cathay Pacific, whereas Terminal 2 has lounges for Virgin Australia and Qantas not far from Gate 20. If you have a membership, these places are great spots to relax and enjoy complimentary tea and coffee.
  • Cairns Airport is a popular place to fly into for those travelling through the north of Queensland. It is one of the major gateways to the Great Barrier Reef and you can find many reef tours setting sail from the marina. For those looking to head to Port Douglass, this is only an hour away from Cairns Airport. You can either drive up the coast in a rental car (available from the airport) or catch the Queensland Rail link.
  • For those looking for additional assistance with their luggage, you can book a porterage service in advance through the airport website. There are also trolleys available in Terminals 1 and 3 for $3 each. Finally, for those only in Cairns for the day, you can store your luggage at the airport in the lockers located opposite the T2 car park service kiosk.
  • Are you getting picked up at the airport? You can direct your driver to the new standby zone between Terminals 1 and 2 on Gypsy Moth Drive, a safe and free waiting area where they can stop their car for up to 30 minutes to pick you up, instead of circling the airport as you pass through baggage collection.

Reviews of the top 4 airlines flying to Cairns

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying to Cairns. Airline scores are aggregated from all reviews left by passengers on KAYAK after flying with an airline from Australia to Cairns. KAYAK doesn’t show reviews that are older than 5 years. Learn how KAYAK collects reviews.
Need help choosing which airline to fly with to Cairns? KAYAK airline reviews give an overall score for each airline based on loads of factors, including comfort, boarding, in-flight entertainment and more, to make your decision easier. See airline scores according to verified KAYAK customer reviews.
9.4
RexOverall score based on 27 reviews
9.1Boarding
9.6Crew
8.0Food
8.6Comfort
6.9Entertainment
Airline reviews

Fantastic staff and plane Only issue was flying out from terminal 2 at Perth nothing was open to get food or drink, we were there 3 hours early with 2 kids and not prepared to not be able to purchase food or drinks. Having self check in and bag drop would be wonderful too, as we had to wait for staff to arrive to check in despite checking in online the day before . Nothing major but would have made a great trip fantastic!

10.0 ExcellentBec, July 2024
PER - ADL
Read more Rex reviews

Fantastic staff and plane Only issue was flying out from terminal 2 at Perth nothing was open to get food or drink, we were there 3 hours early with 2 kids and not prepared to not be able to purchase food or drinks. Having self check in and bag drop would be wonderful too, as we had to wait for staff to arrive to check in despite checking in online the day before . Nothing major but would have made a great trip fantastic!

Enjoyed the comfort of the seats, slight delay to departure time but prompt takeoff and landing.

It asks about entertainment tho it’s not applicable. 10/10 for Rex 👌🏻

Not sure how to answer on the entertainment as there wasn’t any.. Comfort, I wasn’t comfortable as I was on the window side and a morbidly obese man sat in the middle and eased out into my space. I had sciatica so I wasn’t able to move much to get comfortable. Food wise I have a wheat allergy and asked if there was a gluten free option and was given a Byron bay cookie which was lovely tho it wasn’t wheat free. Not to worry. I wasn’t expecting there to be any appropriate snacks for me anyhow. The staff were very generous with the snacks and their concern for the passengers. The staff were amazing tho. Truly amazing ! One of the staff must have noticed my discomfort and helped me out to stand in the back of the plane to stretch which I really appreciated. I would fly with REX again without hesitation. Thank you very much. It was my first flight with you and I look forward to my return flight home on Tuesday. Best wishes to your company 👌🏻

All good, was a one hour flight so no food or entertainment which was expected

Rex is an underrated airline. Its my first time flying them and they were fantastic. the only things that annoyed me about my flight were things other passengers did so it was nothing i or REX could change

Really enjoyed flying with Rex the boarding and booking baggage on was easier than most. I will beat using Rex next time.

On time and a quick flight and staff vert good

They didn’t sent my luggage I got it 24 hours later

Plane was late and they wouldn’t check our bags through to Tokyo

Overall experience was good but what really impressed me the most was the care the flight attendants took of a sick passenger who was sitting in front of me. The flight attendants would come and check on her quite regularly providing her support and comfort. Brilliant service!

Only answered OK and poor as there was no entertainment and I didnt have any food

4.5 hr international flight. We got a glass of water. Ranks up there with Ryan Air, Easy Jet, Spirit and Frontier. Expected better.

Gluten free options less explicit on business class, but great service

Very good… seems the virgin staff particularly in the lounge and in flight exceeded expectations.

I liked everything about the experience but would have liked some free snacks!

Crew was great but flight was delayed almost three hours due to a technical issue and we had to go back to the terminal and wait for another one.

Being told why we delayed three hours and not even given an apology by someone. Not a word. Not my airline of choice ever.

Flight was canceled. I was not alerted. It was only kayak that alerted me

Flight was 2.5 hours late leaving. We spent 50 minutes of that sitting on the plane with no explanation. They did reduce the time in the air so we arrived a little less late which was something. The cheese and crackers were okay but the wine was terrible.

Excellent as always, I won't fly to Australia, and back to the US on any other airline. The flight crew is always top notch, and have a way to make one feel extra special. Thank you for your service, I would rate Qantas Airways a 10+.

After already paying for excess luggage prior to flight, i was advised AT check in that i had to pay $816 or forfeit my flight! The lady at the counter was SO rude and had already started offboarding me when i said i would pay it after asking her three times for the exact amount! Have lodged a formal complaint yet heard nothing. Will not ever travel via Qantas again

A few more inches of legroom is all i ask

Business class points redemption - good value for points paid, dubious value if out of your own pocket, domestic class business product okay for this length of flight. The flight left and arrived on time, crew were good, aircraft was a bit old and tired, but still miles ahead of their competitors in Virgin and Jetstar.

Airline running better than post Covid, proper boarding process now implemented, some aircraft feeling a bit old and tired, crew fine, online experience better.

Five hour flight instead of four hours due to westerly headwinds which wasn’t the fault of Qantas !

The wifi was out. Otherwise it was great flight. Richard, as CSM, was excellent.

Was bumped to a later flight because of inefficiency on part of the airline.

Jet star delayed both trips with poor communication. Passengers were made to change gates often and then left to stand with no seating. As someone getting over surgery this was very trying.

Delayed twice. Poor communication and people made to change gates too often.

Very disappointed with my recent Jetstar experience. Firstly, it was extremely frustrating that we had to pay extra for basic things like in-flight entertainment and meals. Other airlines provide these essentials even with standard tickets, but Jetstar offered no comfort or amenities without additional charges. For a long international journey, this made the experience very uncomfortable. On top of that, there was a delay on our flight from Melbourne to Bangkok due to parts replacement, which was already inconvenient. But the biggest issue was the massive 5 hours and 15 minutes delay on our return flight, which completely disrupted our plans, caused unnecessary stress, and impacted both our time and health. Jetstar provided vouchers, but they were not nearly sufficient to cover proper meals or any meaningful service at Bangkok Airport. After such a long delay, this felt extremely inadequate and did not compensate for the inconvenience we faced. Overall, this has been one of my worst travel experiences. I am extremely disappointed and will not be booking with Jetstar in the future. I strongly request Jetstar to provide additional compensation for the significant delays and the discomfort we had to go through.

Excellent help with Wife needing disability access at Brisbane airport

The flight was delayed by 2 hours but the Jetstar crew were fantastic.

Late leaving and desintuon board showed ‘gate closed’ when they hadn’t even commenced boarding!

Flight was delayed more than 1.5 hours. Gate changed multiple times

The good thing is that the flight got us from Darwin to Brisbane. However, it would have to be the most uncomfortable flight I have ever taken and if I can possibly avoid flying Jetstar again, I will.

no announcement about why we where delayed which is very poor

It was better than I expected. Thought $5 for a small cup of tea was a bit much!

Travelling to a place near Cairns?

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Everything you need to know for your flight to Cairns

Flights with popular airlines flying to Cairns

Flights from the other most popular airlines that fly from Australia to Cairns according to KAYAK users. Prices are the lowest found on KAYAK over the last 7 days. Price and availability are not guaranteed.