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The flight from Brisbane to Cairns is quite short, usually around 2h 30min. For most airlines, this means the food offered will be light meals and snacks like sandwiches, small pies or sausage rolls (served hot) and bakery items like croissants and muffins. Note that on most airlines operating this route, food costs extra, while water, tea and coffee are usually complimentary.
Qantas does offer flights from Brisbane to Cairns. However, these are sometimes connecting flights with a stopover in Townsville. They do offer a few direct flights, and these are often the flights with the smallest carbon footprint.
Book special assistance at least 48 hours in advance through your airline. Most airlines can take bookings over the phone or online. Qantas asks passengers who need a wheelchair to book through their Wheelchair Assistance Request online.
If you're planning on hiring a car in Cairns, it can be convenient to pick it up at the airport. There are car hire counters in both terminals in the arrivals area. A couple of available companies include Avis and Budget, and they have desks in both terminals.
If you’re looking for a bite to eat after your flight, you can find something to suit you in the Domestic Terminal of the Cairns Airport. Hudsons Coffee can offer you a quick pastry and a shot of caffeine to keep you going, or there’s the Macchinetta Coffee just outside the terminal where you can sit down in the fresh air.
There aren’t any public transport options available to take you from the Cairns Airport into the city centre. There are a few private shuttle and bus companies that offer shared services to your destination of choice, including Excellence Coaches or Cairns Bus Charters. Many visitors to Cairns use the CairnsTaxi from the taxi ranks directly outside the Domestic Terminal. It takes about 10 minutes to get to downtown Cairns.
If you need to leave your car somewhere during your flight from Brisbane to Cairns, Brisbane Airport has several different parking options available to suit all kinds of travellers. Premium long-term parking can be found directly outside the Domestic Terminal on Level 3, next to the skywalk. Budget-friendly travellers can choose between open or undercover parking with AIRPARK, who also offer a shuttle service from the carparks to the terminal.
Brisbane Airport offers many opportunities to relax before your flight. If you enjoy shopping, you can use the free shuttle to head over to the Skygate Mall where you can find a range of shopping and eateries, or just relax at the Anton & Blair hair salon. Massage and acupuncture are also available there at the Chi Link spa.
If you need to store some luggage during your stay in Cairns, you can find self-service storage lockers at the Cairns Airport undercover, near the Terminal 2 Carpark. Storage for oversized items is also available. If you prefer to leave your luggage at the Brisbane Airport, storage is available outside the Virgin and Qantas areas of the Domestic Terminal.
Brisbane airport is called Brisbane and the only airport in Cairns is Cairns.
The Boeing 737-800 Passenger/BBJ2 (winglets) is the aircraft model that flies most regularly on the Brisbane to Cairns flight route.
oneworld, and Star Alliance are the airline alliances operating flights between Brisbane and Cairns, with oneworld being the most commonly used for this route.
There are direct flights from Brisbane to Cairns on a daily basis.
The two airlines most popular with KAYAK users for flights from Brisbane to Cairns are Qantas Airways and Virgin Australia. With an average price for the route of $469 and an overall rating of 7.9, Qantas Airways is the most popular choice. Virgin Australia is also a great choice for the route, with an average price of $292 and an overall rating of 7.8.
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 from Brisbane to Cairns.
KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to Cairns from Brisbane is likely to change within 7 days, so travelers know whether to wait or book now.
Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets in order to save you money over a traditional return ticket. You could then fly to Cairns with an airline and back to Brisbane with another airline.
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 from Brisbane up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.
Find which airlines fly direct from Brisbane to Cairns, which days they fly and book direct flights.
Direct departures
Monday
Air Canada, Air New Zealand, American Airlines, +10 more
Air Canada, Air New Zealand, +11 more
9
10
Tuesday
Air Canada, Air New Zealand, China Southern, +9 more
Air Canada, Air New Zealand, +10 more
8
9
Wednesday
Air Canada, Air New Zealand, American Airlines, +11 more
Air Canada, Air New Zealand, +12 more
10
11
Thursday
Air Canada, Air New Zealand, American Airlines, +10 more
Air Canada, Air New Zealand, +11 more
9
10
Friday
Air Canada, Air New Zealand, American Airlines, +10 more
Air Canada, Air New Zealand, +11 more
9
10
Saturday
Air Canada, Air New Zealand, American Airlines, +9 more
Air Canada, Air New Zealand, +10 more
8
9
Sunday
Air Canada, Air New Zealand, American Airlines, +10 more
Air Canada, Air New Zealand, +11 more
9
10
Direct returns
Monday
Air Canada, Air New Zealand, American Airlines, +10 more
Air Canada, Air New Zealand, +11 more
9
10
Tuesday
Air Canada, Air New Zealand, American Airlines, +10 more
Air Canada, Air New Zealand, +11 more
9
10
Wednesday
Air Canada, Air New Zealand, American Airlines, +10 more
Air Canada, Air New Zealand, +11 more
9
10
Thursday
Air Canada, Air New Zealand, American Airlines, +11 more
Air Canada, Air New Zealand, +12 more
10
11
Friday
Air Canada, Air New Zealand, American Airlines, +10 more
Air Canada, Air New Zealand, +11 more
9
10
Saturday
Air Canada, Air New Zealand, American Airlines, +10 more
Air Canada, Air New Zealand, +11 more
9
10
Sunday
Air New Zealand, American Airlines, China Southern, +8 more
Air New Zealand, American Airlines, +9 more
7
8
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
Brisbane (BNE)Australia
Cairns (CNS)Australia