Q: How much does it cost for a return flight from Sydney to Cairns?

Airfare is typical for this route at the moment. Sydney to Cairns flights typically cost between £118 and £185 in September. The cheapest return price found within the last 5 days was £118 on Jetstar (2 Sept–9 Sept).

Question 1

How much does it cost for a return flight from Sydney to Cairns?

Accepted Answer

Airfare is typical for this route at the moment.Sydney to Cairns flights typically cost between £118 and £185 in September.
The cheapest return price found within the last 5 days was £118 on Jetstar (2 Sept–9 Sept).

Question 2

How often are flights from Sydney to Cairns delayed?

Accepted Answer

About 18% of weekly flights between Sydney and Cairns have experienced delays in the past year, with the average delay time being 98 minutes.

Question 3

Which airline has the best punctuality record on Sydney to Cairns flights?

Accepted Answer

Over the past year, Virgin Australia have had the lowest number of delays on this route, with just 13% of flights being delayed.

Question 4

What day of the week experiences the fewest flight delays on this route?

Accepted Answer

Sunday tends to have the lowest number of delays on this route, whereas Thursday has historically faced a higher average of delays compared to other days of the week.

Question 5

What is the most punctual flight time for Sydney to Cairns flights?

Accepted Answer

Historically, flights departing at night are less likely to be delayed, whereas flights leaving in the evening tend to experience delays more often.

Question 6

How popular is this Sydney to Cairns flight route?

Accepted Answer

This flight path from Sydney Kingsford Smith to Cairns was viewed by 43 users in the past month. Keep an eye out for changes in search interest prior to high and low season.

Question 7

How long is the flight from Sydney to Cairns?

Accepted Answer

A quick flight from Sydney to Cairns can take about 3h 05m. Jetstar provides one of the quickest options available for as low as £136. The distance between Sydney and Cairns is about 1224 mi. All flights are typically direct.

Question 8

What are the cheapest airlines flying from Sydney to Cairns round-trip?

Accepted Answer

According to our current data, Virgin Australia (£79), and Jetstar (£103) offers the cheapest pricing from Sydney to Cairns. These flights start at 53% lower than the current average price 3 months from now.

Question 9

What are the cheapest airlines to fly from Sydney to Cairns one-way?

Accepted Answer

£35 is the cheapest one-way deal found within the past few days, from Jetstar. You may also be able to find cheap deals on Virgin Australia and Qantas Airways, with prices starting from £58 and £99, respectively.

Question 10

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

Accepted Answer

The best time to book flights from Sydney to Cairns is 78 days before your desired departure date. The cost of your flight will likely increase significantly if you book two weeks in advance of your flight.

Question 11

What is the cheapest month to book a flight from Sydney to Cairns?

Accepted Answer

Currently, January is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Sydney to Cairns (average of £143). Flying from Sydney to Cairns in December is currently the most expensive (average of £194). There are several factors that can impact the price of a flight, so comparing airlines, departure airports and flight times can provide users with more options.

Question 12

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

Accepted Answer

Travellers seeking maximum savings on their Sydney to Cairns flight should consider departing on Thursday evenings when fares are most often at their lowest. Tuesday at midday flights should be avoided if possible as fares are typically the most expensive at this time.

Question 13

Weekly flight availability from Sydney to Cairns

Accepted Answer

The most flights from SYD to CNS are scheduled on a Sunday (44 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Tuesday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (32 on average).

Question 14

E

Accepted Answer

In terms of precipitation, rainfall in Cairns ranges from 20.0 - 430.0 inches per month. March is typically the wettest month, when rainfall can reach 430.0 mm. July is typically the driest time to visit Cairns when rainfall is around 20.0 mm.

Question 15

E

Accepted Answer

If weather is an important factor for your trip to Cairns, use this chart to help with planning. For those seeking warmer temperatures, January is the ideal time of year to visit, when temperatures reach an average of 27.0 C. Travellers hoping to avoid the cold should look outside of June, when temperatures are typically at their lowest (around 21.0 C).

Question 16

What are the cheapest flights from Sydney to Cairns?

Accepted Answer

The cheapest flight price from Sydney to Cairns is £77. On average you can expect to pay £127. The most popular route, (Sydney Kingsford Smith - Cairns), can usually be booked for £133.

Question 17

What are the most reliable airlines from Sydney to Cairns?

Accepted Answer

Looking for the most reliable airlines to get you to your destination on time? Our data shows these are most likely to get you from Sydney to Cairns on time: Air India (87%), Alliance Airlines (83%), Virgin Australia (82%).

Question 18

What is the cheapest time of day to fly from SYD to CNS?

Accepted Answer

Unlike at midday, when flights are generally more expensive, you can save up to 27% on flights from Sydney to Cairns by exploring options for tickets in the evening.

Question 19

What airports do I use to fly from Sydney to Cairns?

Accepted Answer

Cairns is the airport most travelers will use when flying to Cairns from Sydney Kingsford Smith. Booking flights from Kingsford Smith (SYD) to Cairns (CNS) should be relatively easy as there are 36 daily flights to Cairns from 2 different airlines. 3h 05m is how long a flight from Sydney to Cairns will take if you book a nonstop flight.

Question 20

Can I find deals for flights from Sydney to Cairns that include hotel bookings?

Accepted Answer

Yes. In addition to deals on Sydney to Cairns flights, Cheapflights offers holiday packages that include both flights and hotel.

Question 21

How can I find direct flights from Sydney to Cairns?

Accepted Answer

After entering your origin and destination, apply the non-stop filter on the search result page to find direct flights from Sydney to Cairns.

Question 22

Can I find deals for business class flights from Sydney to Cairns?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from Sydney to Cairns by cabin class. In addition to browsing deals, you can also filter by cabin class on the search results page after making a search.

Question 23

How does Cheapflights help users find flights from Sydney to Cairns?

Accepted Answer

Cheapflights helps you search for flights from Sydney to Cairns via 900+ travel sites so you don’t have to. After performing a flight search, users can also filter their flight selection by filtering for price, number of stops, airlines, and so on.

Question 24

Why should you use Cheapflights to find cheap flight tickets from Sydney to Cairns?

Accepted Answer

It’s simple! Cheapflights, which is free to use for everyone, saves millions of users time and money every year by helping them find the cheapest and most suitable flights from Sydney to Cairns.

Question 25

Can Cheapflights find flights from Sydney to Cairns with no change fees?

Accepted Answer

Cheapflights does show flights with no change fees to all users. To see these options for flights from Sydney to Cairns, users can toggle the no change fees filter when performing a flight search.

Question 26

Can Cheapflights notify me if prices for flights from Sydney to Cairns become cheaper?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Cheapflights offers price alerts on Sydney to Cairns flights so you can book your travel at the perfect time. Price Alerts can be enabled by clicking the bell icon next to the flight deals above and providing your email address where you want to receive the alerts.

Round-trip from	£118
One-way from	£68
Popular in	December
Cheapest in	January
Average price	£193
Good round-trip deal	£152 or less
Good one-way deal	£93 or less

Airline	Cheapest	Average	Flexibility	On-time
Virgin Australia	Cheapest£79	Average£166	FlexibilityNo cancel fee	On-time80%	Search Virgin Australia flights
Jetstar	Cheapest£104	Average£194	FlexibilityNo cancel fee	On-time74%	Search Jetstar flights

Cheap flights from Sydney to Cairns from £68

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a Cheapflights user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight departing on 30/11. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.

Cheap flight deals from Sydney to Cairns

Cheapest flights from Sydney to CairnsExplore the most affordable flight options available from Sydney to Cairns. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on 27 July 2026.

Explore the most affordable flight options available from Sydney to Cairns. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on 27 July 2026.

Best flights from Sydney to CairnsDiscover carefully curated flight deals from Sydney to Cairns that have cost, travel time, and stopovers in mind to ensure you get the best travel experience. Data last updated 27 July 2026.

Discover carefully curated flight deals from Sydney to Cairns that have cost, travel time, and stopovers in mind to ensure you get the best travel experience. Data last updated 27 July 2026.

Direct flights from Sydney to CairnsExplore direct flight options from Sydney to Cairns based on user searches, and compare prices and availability for your desired travel dates. Data last updated 27 July 2026.

Explore direct flight options from Sydney to Cairns based on user searches, and compare prices and availability for your desired travel dates. Data last updated 27 July 2026.

Last-minute flights from Sydney to CairnsDiscover last-minute flight deals from Sydney to Cairns. Data last updated 27 July 2026 and is based on user searches.

Discover last-minute flight deals from Sydney to Cairns. Data last updated 27 July 2026 and is based on user searches.

One-way flights from Sydney to CairnsSearch for one-way flight options from Sydney to Cairns. Find affordable one-way fares based on user searches. Data last updated 27 July 2026.

Search for one-way flight options from Sydney to Cairns. Find affordable one-way fares based on user searches. Data last updated 27 July 2026.

Find flight deals from Sydney to Cairns

Round-trip from

One-way from

Popular in

Cheapest in

Average price

Good round-trip deal

Good one-way deal

Cheapflights Fare Finder

Use the filters below to find and compare flights from Sydney to Cairns that are best for you.

Best time to book a flight from Sydney to Cairns

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to Cairns from Sydney with our price prediction graph.

Cheapflights Insights

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

The best time to book flights from Sydney to Cairns is 78 days before your desired departure date. The cost of your flight will likely increase significantly if you book two weeks in advance of your flight.

What is the cheapest month to book a flight from Sydney to Cairns?

What is the cheapest time of day to fly from SYD to CNS?

Unlike at midday, when flights are generally more expensive, you can save up to 27% on flights from Sydney to Cairns by exploring options for tickets in the evening.

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

Travellers seeking maximum savings on their Sydney to Cairns flight should consider departing on Thursday evenings when fares are most often at their lowest. Tuesday at midday flights should be avoided if possible as fares are typically the most expensive at this time.

How much does it cost for a return flight from Sydney to Cairns?

Airfare is typical for this route at the moment.

Sydney to Cairns flights typically cost between £118 and £185 in September.The cheapest return price found within the last 5 days was £118 on Jetstar (2 Sept–9 Sept).

Weekly flight availability from Sydney to Cairns

The most flights from SYD to CNS are scheduled on a Sunday (44 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Tuesday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (32 on average).

How often are flights from Sydney to Cairns delayed?

About 18% of weekly flights between Sydney and Cairns have experienced delays in the past year, with the average delay time being 98 minutes.

What is the most punctual flight time for Sydney to Cairns flights?

Historically, flights departing at night are less likely to be delayed, whereas flights leaving in the evening tend to experience delays more often.

What day of the week experiences the fewest flight delays on this route?

Sunday tends to have the lowest number of delays on this route, whereas Thursday has historically faced a higher average of delays compared to other days of the week.

Which airline has the best punctuality record on Sydney to Cairns flights?

Over the past year, Virgin Australia have had the lowest number of delays on this route, with just 13% of flights being delayed.

Reviews of airlines servicing Cairns

Get insights into the airlines that provide service to Cairns. Read reviews, discover amenities, and learn about the overall travel experience offered by airlines. Use this information to make informed decisions when choosing an airline for your flight to Cairns. Reviews last updated 27 July 2026.

Read through reviews of airlines operating flights from Sydney to Cairns, such as Virgin Australia and Jetstar. Reviews also offer insight into each airline's entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.

Related info for your journey

What airports do I use to fly from Sydney to Cairns?

How popular is this Sydney to Cairns flight route?

How long is the flight from Sydney to Cairns?

What are the cheapest airlines flying from Sydney to Cairns round-trip?

What are the cheapest airlines to fly from Sydney to Cairns one-way?

What are the most reliable airlines from Sydney to Cairns?

What are the cheapest flights from Sydney to Cairns?

Can I find deals for flights from Sydney to Cairns that include hotel bookings?

How can I find direct flights from Sydney to Cairns?

Can I find deals for business class flights from Sydney to Cairns?

What is the cheapest month to book a flight from Sydney to Cairns?

Browse thousands of different options on Cheapflights for your next trip

Toggle through the tabs below to find thousands of options on Cheapflights for your next trip.

Alternative routes for Sydney to Cairns

See prices for flight routes from nearby airports that may be better suited for you.

Other flights to Cairns

Explore flights to Cairns departing from other origins. Flights are based on user searches made on Cheapflights and were last updated on 27 July 2026.

Complete your trip

Complete your trip to Cairns by adding a car hire and/or hotel booking to your travel itinerary.

Direct flights to Australia

Book a non-stop flight to one of these other cities located in Australia.

Search flights from Sydney to Cairns by cabin class

Find flights from Sydney to Cairns, based on your preferred cabin class, be it economy, premium economy, business, or first class.

Sydney and Cairns flights

Browse other Sydney and Cairns flight options. Last updated on 27 July 2026.

Other flights from Sydney

Browse through other flights departing from Sydney. Flights are based on user searches made on Cheapflights and were last updated on 27 July 2026.

Popular flight searches

Check out other popular destinations found by fellow travellers in 2026

Top 2 airlines flying from Sydney to Cairns

Cheapest flights from Sydney to Cairns
Explore the most affordable flight options available from Sydney to Cairns. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on 27 July 2026.

Best flights from Sydney to Cairns
Discover carefully curated flight deals from Sydney to Cairns that have cost, travel time, and stopovers in mind to ensure you get the best travel experience. Data last updated 27 July 2026.

Direct flights from Sydney to Cairns
Explore direct flight options from Sydney to Cairns based on user searches, and compare prices and availability for your desired travel dates. Data last updated 27 July 2026.

Last-minute flights from Sydney to Cairns
Discover last-minute flight deals from Sydney to Cairns. Data last updated 27 July 2026 and is based on user searches.

One-way flights from Sydney to Cairns
Search for one-way flight options from Sydney to Cairns. Find affordable one-way fares based on user searches. Data last updated 27 July 2026.

Sydney to Cairns flights typically cost between £118 and £185 in September.
The cheapest return price found within the last 5 days was £118 on Jetstar (2 Sept–9 Sept).