$139 Find Cheap Flights from Cairns to Brisbane – Compare and Save

Among airlines operating Cairns to Brisbane flights:

• Virgin Australia: offers free seat selection
• Qantas Airways: offers free seat selection

Extra legroom and free seat selection availability depends on fare class and route.

3 airlines operate flights between Cairns and Brisbane. The airlines offering direct flights on this route include:

• Qantas Airways
• Virgin Australia
• Jetstar

Flights from Cairns to Brisbane usually depart from Cairns (CNS) and arrive at Brisbane (BNE).

Here are some options for this route, based on selected ticket types and cabin classes:

• Virgin Australia: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class
• Jetstar: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class
• Qantas Airways: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class

Bag allowance can vary by ticket type, cabin class, route, and airline, so travellers should check the fare details before booking.

Two cabin classes are available on flights from Cairns to Brisbane:

• Economy class
• Business Class

On this route, direct flights are cheaper than stopover options on average. Direct fares average $275 return, compared with $372 via a stopover through Townsville (TSV).

There is no standard. Checked bag policies vary by airline on this route. Most carriers charge $32–$139 for the first checked bag in Economy. Premium fares and elite status bookings typically include a free checked bag.

The Boeing 737-800 Passenger/BBJ2 (winglets) family is used most often on this route, operated mainly by Virgin Australia and Qantas Airways. Other aircraft seen on the route include Airbus A320-100/200 variants.

Most connecting flights from Cairns to Brisbane pass through Townsville (TSV), which handles 100% of one-stop traffic on this route. Other stopover airports each see under 5%.

Yes. Being flexible with your travel dates can save you up to 24% on the Cairns to Brisbane route. Thursday is the cheapest departure day at $240 return on average, while Sunday is the most expensive at $315, a difference of $75. KAYAK's flexible dates feature shows options up to 3 days before and after your selected dates, making it easier to compare nearby fares.

A flight is considered delayed when it departs 15 minutes or more after its scheduled time. This is the standard used by the US Department of Transportation and most airline industry reporting. On the Cairns to Brisbane route, 10% of flights were delayed in the past 3 months, with delays averaging 1 hour 37 minutes.

Morning is the busiest departure period on Cairns to Brisbane flights, with 54% leaving in that window. Afternoon departures account for 31%, Evening flights for 15%, and Night flights for 0%.

Some of the most popular sights in Brisbane are Roma Street Railway Station, Mater Private Hospital Brisbane, and Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. These are among the most viewed places in Brisbane on KAYAK.

These are the earliest and latest flight times available from Cairns to Brisbane:

• Earliest: departs at 06:00 and lands at 08:17
• Latest: departs at 20:55 and lands at 23:12.

The flight takes about 2h 17m.

Last-minute fares on this route (booked within 2 weeks of departure) run 37% above the route average of $275. Book 5 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

A direct flight from Cairns to Brisbane takes 2h 17m, covering 2,239 km.

No. A passport is not required for this domestic route, but you will need a real ID-compliant driver's license, a state ID, or another TSA-accepted form of identification.

One-way fares from Cairns to Brisbane are currently in line with typical prices for this route. Average one-way fares are about $185.

Qantas Airways is slightly above the route average for timely arrivals, while Virgin Australia has a lower on-time arrival rate. On-time arrival rates on Cairns to Brisbane flights are:

• Qantas Airways: 92% on time
• Virgin Australia: 90% on time
• Jetstar: 90% on time

On average, flights on this route are punctual 90% of the time.

Night flights have the fewest delays on this route. Delays tend to pile up throughout the day as one late flight pushes the next, so earlier departures are usually more reliable.

Brisbane Airport (BNE) hosts 5 major car hire companies, with daily rates starting from around $15 for economy cars. Top options include:
• Bargain Car Rentals
• Simba Car Hire
• East Coast Car Rentals
• Alpha
• EverythingFleet

Return flights from Cairns to Brisbane range from $219 to $366, with an average of $275 over the past 12 months. Anything below $219 counts as a good deal.