CNS - SYD

$118 Find Cheap Flights from Cairns to Sydney

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from Cairns to Sydney departing on 21/5. 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 Sydney

 
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Cairns to Sydney, as well as popular online travel agencies
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Cairns to Sydney, as well as popular online travel agencies
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Everything you should know

Cheapest return fare
$203
Typical prices: $215-$388
Jetstar
Fri 27/3Sun 29/3
CNS - SYD • Direct
Cheapest one-way flight
$118
Typical prices: $134-$210
Jetstar
Thu 21/5
CNS - SYD • Direct
Top airlines
Jetstar
Cheapest • from $203 (return)
Virgin Australia
Best reviews • 7.6 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
+1
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
Direct flights
Every day
You can fly direct with Jetstar, Qantas Airways, and Virgin Australia. Average duration is 2h 56m
Direct flights
Direct flights
+1
+1
Direct flights
Direct flights
+1
Avoid delays
Virgin Australia
Most punctual • 88% on-time
Morning flights
Best time • Fewest delays
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to book
3 weeks
in advance
Our data shows that travellers who book at least 3 weeks in advance save around 21% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to travel
June
Cheapest • 21% price drop
April
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 Sydney!
Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from Cairns to Sydney (CNS-SYD)

 
Here are some of the best deals found on KAYAK recently from the most popular airlines for return flights from Cairns to Sydney 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 from Cairns to Sydney

Fri, 27 Mar - Sun, 29 Mar
Jetstar Logo
18:05 - 22:05
CNS
-
SYD
3h 00mdirect
Jetstar Logo
06:10 - 08:20
SYD
-
CNS
3h 10mdirect
$203Jetstar
Fri, 27 Mar - Sun, 29 Mar
Jetstar Logo
18:05 - 22:05
CNS
-
SYD
3h 00mdirect
Jetstar Logo
15:15 - 17:25
SYD
-
CNS
3h 10mdirect
$205Jetstar
Fri, 27 Mar - Sun, 29 Mar
Jetstar Logo
18:05 - 22:05
CNS
-
SYD
3h 00mdirect
Jetstar Logo
06:10 - 08:20
SYD
-
CNS
3h 10mdirect
$206Jetstar
Wed, 1 Apr - Wed, 15 Apr
Jetstar Logo
18:10 - 22:05
CNS
-
SYD
2h 55mdirect
Jetstar Logo
19:15 - 22:25
SYD
-
CNS
3h 10mdirect
$212Jetstar
Wed, 1 Apr - Wed, 15 Apr
Jetstar Logo
06:45 - 10:45
CNS
-
SYD
3h 00mdirect
Jetstar Logo
19:15 - 22:25
SYD
-
CNS
3h 10mdirect
$215Jetstar
Fri, 27 Mar - Sun, 29 Mar
Jetstar Logo
18:05 - 22:05
CNS
-
SYD
3h 00mdirect
Jetstar Logo
06:10 - 08:20
SYD
-
CNS
3h 10mdirect
$219Jetstar
Tue, 21 Apr - Tue, 28 Apr
Jetstar Logo
19:10 - 22:05
CNS
-
SYD
2h 55mdirect
Jetstar Logo
06:10 - 09:20
SYD
-
CNS
3h 10mdirect
$220Jetstar
Tue, 21 Apr - Tue, 28 Apr
Jetstar Logo
19:10 - 22:05
CNS
-
SYD
2h 55mdirect
Jetstar Logo
15:15 - 18:25
SYD
-
CNS
3h 10mdirect
$223Jetstar
Wed, 22 Apr - Wed, 29 Apr
Jetstar Logo
19:10 - 22:05
CNS
-
SYD
2h 55mdirect
Jetstar Logo
10:30 - 13:40
SYD
-
CNS
3h 10mdirect
$225Jetstar
Fri, 27 Mar - Sun, 29 Mar
Jetstar Logo
18:05 - 22:05
CNS
-
SYD
3h 00mdirect
Jetstar Logo
06:10 - 08:20
SYD
-
CNS
3h 10mdirect
$227Jetstar
Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for Cairns to Sydney flights

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

How much is a return flight from Cairns to Sydney?

This analysis is based on the cheapest return trip price found on KAYAK in the last 12 months by searching for a flight from Cairns to Sydney departing in March.

What’s the cheapest day of the week to fly from Cairns to Sydney?

The average price of all round-trip flights from Cairns to Sydney clicked on KAYAK for each day over the last 12 months.

If you are looking for a flight deal from Cairns to Sydney, look for departures on Thursdays and avoid leaving on a Sunday, as it's usually the priciest day. When flying back from Sydney, Tuesday is the cheapest day to fly and Friday is the most expensive.

What is the cheapest month to fly from Cairns to Sydney?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights from Cairns to Sydney, 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 from Cairns to Sydney is June, where tickets cost $218 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are April and October, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $351 and $330 respectively.

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

To calculate weekly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each week before departure over the last year for round-trip flights from Cairns to Sydney, 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 on the flight from Cairns to Sydney, you should book around 3 weeks before departure, which saves you about 21% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 23 weeks before departure.

Good to know

Low seasonFebruary
Cheapest flight$118
Best time to beat the crowds but there is an average 3% increase in price.
Most popular time to fly (27% more expensive on average)
Flight from Cairns to Sydney

When to book flights from Cairns to Sydney

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from Cairns to Sydney 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. While we try to provide actual minimum prices for each date, some prices are predictions and actual prices may differ.

FAQs for booking flights from Cairns to Sydney

  • Does Cairns Airport offer free Wi-Fi?

    Whether you need to make a last-minute booking, get some more information on your destination or finish up some work, you can stay connected with the free Wi-Fi offered in all areas of both Cairns Airport terminals. Access is unlimited and granted after a short and simple registration process.

  • Does Cairns Airport have parents’ facilities?

    If you’re travelling with infants, you can take care of changing, feeding and the rest of your parental responsibilities in one of the several parenting rooms at Cairns Airport. Parents’ facilities are conveniently located both before and after security control in T1 International and T2 Domestic.

  • How much is a taxi fare to Sydney city centre from the airport?

    Taxis can be easily hired at the taxi ranks outside the arrivals area on Level 1 of the terminal building for travellers who prefer a private transfer to their final destination. The duration of the trip between Sydney Airport and the city centre can be anywhere from 20 to 25 minutes, with fares at around $45-55.

  • Does Sydney Airport have an on-site hotel?

    For travellers with early return flights, or those that simply wish to stick close to the terminal, the Mantra Hotel and Ibis Hotel are a short walk from Sydney Airport’s Domestic Terminals 2 & 3. Ibis offers both standard and budget accommodation to serve travellers on any budget. Rates can fluctuate depending on the season, so try to book early for a good price.

  • Which budget airlines fly from Cairns to Sydney?

    Several budget airlines fly from Cairns to Sydney. Jetstar, for example, offers a number of daily flights. Jetstar is owned by Qantas, so Qantas Frequent Flyers can earn points on their Jetstar flights. Virgin Australia is another budget-friendly option offering frequent flights.

  • What airlines let me bring more luggage on board?

    Most airlines allow you to bring up to 7 kg of carry-on luggage. Jetstar's economy flex fare allows you to bring up to 14 kg of luggage across your carry-on luggage and your personal item. No individual bag can weigh more than 10 kg. These are perfect for those who want to bring a little bit of extra luggage but don't need enough to book checked luggage.

  • Which major airlines fly from Cairns to Sydney?

    Qantas is a major airline that runs flights from Cairns to Sydney. Most flights are direct but a few have a stopover at Brisbane Airport (BNE). If you're flying business class or are a lounge member, you can visit the Qantas Lounge during your stopover, spread across three levels.

  • How can I get special assistance at the airport?

    If you need assistance moving through the airport or on your flight, you can book mobility assistance through your airline. Make sure to book it at least 48 hours in advance. You can usually access your assistance from the check-in desk. At Cairns Airport, there's a disability drop-off area, right next to the other drop-off area.

  • What is the cheapest flight from Cairns to Sydney?

    In the last 3 days, the lowest price for a flight from Cairns to Sydney was $117 for a one-way ticket and $203 for a return.

  • Which aircraft models fly most regularly from Cairns to Sydney?

    The Boeing 737-800 Passenger/BBJ2 (winglets) is the aircraft model that flies most regularly on the Cairns to Sydney flight route.

  • Which airline alliances offer flights from Cairns to Sydney?

    oneworld is the only airline alliance operating flights between Cairns and Sydney.

  • On which days can I fly direct from Cairns to Sydney?

    There are direct flights from Cairns to Sydney on a daily basis.

  • Which is the best airline for flights from Cairns to Sydney, Virgin Australia or Qantas Airways?

    The two airlines most popular with KAYAK users for flights from Cairns to Sydney are Virgin Australia and Qantas Airways. With an average price for the route of $320 and an overall rating of 7.6, Virgin Australia is the most popular choice. Qantas Airways is also a great choice for the route, with an average price of $366 and an overall rating of 7.5.

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

    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 Cairns to Sydney.

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

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

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

    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 Sydney with an airline and back to Cairns with another airline.

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

    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 Sydney from Cairns up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

KAYAK’s top tips for finding a cheap flight from Cairns to Sydney

  • Looking for a cheap flight? 25% of our users found flights on this route for $154 or less one-way and $258 or less round-trip.
  • Non-stop flights from Cairns to Sydney are quick and easy to find with domestic airlines like TigerAir Australia and Jetstar. Flights between the two cities are generally affordable and will arrive at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport. Sydney Airport serves the entire Sydney area and is located approximately 8 km from the city centre.
  • Once your flight lands, you can easily reach hotels and destinations in central Sydney by using public transport. One of the most popular ways to reach the city centre is to take the train. Trains leave from the northern end of the terminal approximately every ten minutes and cost around $19.
  • Renting a car is a good alternative if your travels around Sydney involve areas not served by public transport routes. There is a long list of different rental car agencies that operate at Sydney Airport, including Hertz, Budget and Avis. The car rental kiosks are located on the Arrivals level in Terminal 1.
  • Parking at Cairns Airport is affordable and accessible compared to other busy Australian airports. All car parks are located a short walk away from the terminals, and can be conveniently booked ahead of time via the Cairns Airport online booking system. Fees for parking start at approximately $7 per day.
  • If you’re booking a return or transit flight from Cairns to Sydney, you can grab a bite to eat and relax in one of the many airport lounges located at Sydney Airport. There are varying entrance requirements for the seven different lounges, but six of them can be accessed with single-entry passes starting at approximately $50.
  • If you're hoping to relax in a lounge before your flight from Cairns (CNS) to Sydney Kingsford Smith (SYD), consider booking a flight with Qantas. Their Qantas Club Lounge in the domestic terminal is usually open to business class passengers and Qantas Club members. You can find it on Level 1 of the T2 Terminal.
  • For this domestic route, most airlines ask that you arrive at least 45 minutes before your flight is scheduled to depart. Of course, arriving earlier is a good idea, particularly during school holidays.

Prefer to fly direct from Cairns to Sydney Kingsford Smith?

 
Direct data is based off flight results for the next 60 days. Find direct flights from all airlines flying direct from Cairns to Sydney Kingsford Smith.
Find which airlines fly direct from Cairns Airport to Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, which days they fly and book direct flights.

Direct departures

Cairns to Sydney Kingsford Smith

Monday

Jetstar, Qantas Airways, Virgin Australia

Jetstar, Qantas Airways, +1 more

Tuesday

Jetstar, Qantas Airways, Virgin Australia

Jetstar, Qantas Airways, +1 more

Wednesday

Jetstar, Qantas Airways, Virgin Australia

Jetstar, Qantas Airways, +1 more

Thursday

Jetstar, Qantas Airways, Virgin Australia

Jetstar, Qantas Airways, +1 more

Friday

Jetstar, Qantas Airways, Virgin Australia

Jetstar, Qantas Airways, +1 more

Saturday

Jetstar, Qantas Airways, Virgin Australia

Jetstar, Qantas Airways, +1 more

Sunday

Jetstar, Qantas Airways, Virgin Australia

Jetstar, Qantas Airways, +1 more

See more direct flights

Direct returns

Sydney Kingsford Smith to Cairns

Monday

Jetstar, Qantas Airways, Virgin Australia

Jetstar, Qantas Airways, +1 more

Tuesday

Jetstar, Qantas Airways, Virgin Australia

Jetstar, Qantas Airways, +1 more

Wednesday

Jetstar, Qantas Airways, Virgin Australia

Jetstar, Qantas Airways, +1 more

Thursday

Jetstar, Qantas Airways, Virgin Australia

Jetstar, Qantas Airways, +1 more

Friday

Jetstar, Qantas Airways, Virgin Australia

Jetstar, Qantas Airways, +1 more

Saturday

Jetstar, Qantas Airways, Virgin Australia

Jetstar, Qantas Airways, +1 more

Sunday

Jetstar, Qantas Airways, Virgin Australia

Jetstar, Qantas Airways, +1 more

See more direct flights

Reviews of the top 3 airlines flying from Cairns to Sydney

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from Cairns to Sydney. Airline scores are aggregated from all reviews left by passengers on KAYAK after flying with an airline. KAYAK doesn’t show reviews that are older than 5 years. Learn how KAYAK collects reviews.
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from Cairns to Sydney? 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.
7.6
Virgin AustraliaOverall score based on 446 reviews
6.4Entertainment
6.4Food
8.2Crew
7.7Boarding
7.5Comfort
Airline reviews

Very friendly staff. No food service and no entertainment. Only 1hr 20min flight

10.0 ExcellentAnonymous, Mar 2026
SYD - OOL
Read more Virgin Australia reviews

Very friendly staff. No food service and no entertainment. Only 1hr 20min flight

High fees for excess checked baggage and somehow ridiculous rules for carry on bags.

Flight was late, food and drink an extra charge, my carry on is five rows behind me, and the seats are too narrow. Don’t ask me to be happy about it

I bought flights in August and there wasn’t a flight in the system

Our 6.30am flight was boarded then cancelled to fly at 10.55am . We were flying to Brisbane to attend a funeral at 12 noon an hour away . This means missing the funeral due to unreliability of Virgin . Unimpressed !!

It was with Link Airways and the Saab 340 jet was noisy and little comfort.

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

My experience was great overall. Tanya was particularly friendly and helpful the entire trip. I was very pleased with her customer service skills. The plane was an older aircraft but the entire way was comfortable with barely any turbulence at all. Qantas should speed up its fleet renovation. Totally recommend using this airline.

Qantas is always subpar beyond comfy chairs for a domestic flight

an hour late, then had to disembark on back stairs and take 4 flights up to get to main airport. No warning, and difficulty for those with canes and poor knees.

Well my expórtenle with Qantas it wasn’t that good KLM from Bs Aires was delay Santiago Chile Qantas QF 028 was still in the airport but the crew didn’t opened the door for me soo I lost my fly And I stuck in the airport 13 hrs waiting for next fly by Latam Arline My question is can I have my money back for business class

It was ok, the additional baggage charges were a bit excessive given winter is a time for skiing. To have to pay $600 extra for skis was tantamount to robbery. Airlines should consider sporting goods as baggage. Likewise, they should consider increasing the number of bags allowed on international flights to known ski destinations.

Couldn't access entertainment on app as said in an email

A few more inches of legroom is all i ask

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

Inflight entertainment, poor that there are no headrest screens on aircraft used for an international flight.

The Emerits/Qantas flight was cancelled to Wellington. We need a refund. Had to buy another airline ticket. How do we get the refund. Still not in Wellington.

One of the better flights I’ve had w Jetstar. Smooth boarding, early take off, on time landing, very courteous crew, clean plane.

local frequent travellers know that Jetstar’s flights between MEL and LST are turnaround flights so those in the morning tend to run on time and become delayed increasingly through the day. We observed how the staff at check in and boarding try to assist, guide and facilitate travellers - they were courteous, efficient, amiable while enforcing Jetstar’s baggage requirements. They try to speed up boarding by having passengers board from both front and back. We would take Jetstar again.

The issue was a 4 hour delay to takeoff with very sketchy information provided about the available of the flights delay. Passengers were not informed of gate changes and how long the delay might be. It ended with a late night 2 hour drive to our home which was not ideal for elderly people.

Flight was fine with boarding starting a few minutes early. Not a fan of the crew pushing political messaging regarding indigenous naming of Brisbane city… really pushed it like I haven’t heard on Jetstar before.

Improved experience over our last years flight when also we flew local but on an international scheduled flight. The double processing is still unwelcome i.e. by security and then by border force having to produce a licence and boarding pass repeatedly on departure and return. Obviously suits the airline rather than the local traveller. The flight and crew were good though a helper on return was offhand having to push the wheel chair did the bare minimum we felt.

Flight on time. New plane. No entertainment screen just device. No offer of water. Didn’t order food.

Flight was delayed both directions but once in the air was ok. Boarding out of Melbourne is just a mess.

Although a local trip via international flight it was fairly straight forward albeit more checks than desirable for local travel. On arrival Perth collecting luggage the trollies were hidden in one end of the long hall.

Over four hours late. No entertainment without paying and same for food. Asked to check in at original time even though we were told it was going to be very late leaving. Way too long time to hang around the airport. Arriving to Sydney luggage did not arrive for an hour. Had to get staff to go and find out what was going on. All this made for a very long day and night for a eight hour flight.

I was disappointed to find that the QR code for purchasing in-flight entertainment did not function, leaving me without access to the amenities I had anticipated. (both flights)

Everything you need to know for your flight from Cairns to Sydney

Other airlines flying from Cairns to Sydney

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