Cheap Flights to Cairns Airport

Compare Cairns Airport flights across hundreds of providers

Find the cheapest month or even day of the year to fly

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Flight deals to Cairns

Looking for a cheap last-minute deal or the best return flight to Cairns? Find the lowest prices on one-way and return tickets right here.

Cairns.$71 per passenger.Departing Tue, 26 Aug.One-way flight with Jetstar.Outbound direct flight with Jetstar departs from Brisbane on Tue, 26 Aug, arriving in Cairns.Price includes taxes and charges.From $71, select.

Cairns.$72 per passenger.Departing Tue, 22 Jul.One-way flight with Jetstar.Outbound direct flight with Jetstar departs from Brisbane on Tue, 22 Jul, arriving in Cairns.Price includes taxes and charges.From $72, select.

Cairns.$73 per passenger.Departing Tue, 9 Sep.One-way flight with Jetstar.Outbound direct flight with Jetstar departs from Brisbane on Tue, 9 Sep, arriving in Cairns.Price includes taxes and charges.From $73, select.

Cairns.$75 per passenger.Departing Tue, 2 Dec.One-way flight with Jetstar.Outbound direct flight with Jetstar departs from Sunshine Coast on Tue, 2 Dec, arriving in Cairns.Price includes taxes and charges.From $75, select.

Cairns.$75 per passenger.Departing Sat, 18 Oct.One-way flight with Jetstar.Outbound direct flight with Jetstar departs from Sunshine Coast on Sat, 18 Oct, arriving in Cairns.Price includes taxes and charges.From $75, select.

Cairns.$75 per passenger.Departing Sat, 8 Nov.One-way flight with Jetstar.Outbound direct flight with Jetstar departs from Sunshine Coast on Sat, 8 Nov, arriving in Cairns.Price includes taxes and charges.From $75, select.

Cairns.$83 per passenger.Departing Mon, 16 Jun.One-way flight with Jetstar.Outbound direct flight with Jetstar departs from Brisbane on Mon, 16 Jun, arriving in Cairns.Price includes taxes and charges.From $83, select.

Cairns.$84 per passenger.Departing Tue, 20 May.One-way flight with Jetstar.Outbound direct flight with Jetstar departs from Brisbane on Tue, 20 May, arriving in Cairns.Price includes taxes and charges.From $84, select.

Find the cheapest time to fly to Cairns

Flexible on travel dates? Find the cheapest month – or even day – to fly to Cairns.

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Airports near Cairns

Compare routes to Cairns below. You may find an airport to fly into that's cheaper, faster, or easier.

Direct flights to Cairns

Frequently asked questions

Which airlines offer direct flights to Cairns?

Qantas, Air New Zealand, Jetstar, Alliance Airlines, Virgin Australia, Singapore Airlines, Emirates and Cathay Pacific all fly direct to Cairns.

When is the cheapest time to fly to Cairns?

The cheapest month to fly to Cairns is usually August.

How can I find the best flight deal to Cairns?

We show every price from over 1,200 airlines and travel agents, comparing them all so you don’t have to. If you know you want to fly to Cairns but you’re not ready to book, set up a Price Alert. We’ll track prices for you, and let you know when they rise or fall.

Can I get a direct flight to Cairns Airport?

Yes – the average flight time is 2 hours and 2 minutes.

How much are return flights to Cairns?

The best price we found for a return flight to Cairns is $144. This is an estimate based on information collected from different airlines and travel providers over the last 4 days and is subject to change and availability.

Which upcoming date is cheapest to fly to Cairns Airport on?

After crunching the numbers on our flight calendar, we found that the cheapest date to fly to Cairns Airport is Monday, 4 August 2025.

When is the best time to book flights to Cairns?

We crunched all the numbers in our flight calendar and it looks like the cheapest time to book a flight to Cairns is around 40 days in advance, so don’t leave your flight to the last minute.

Which is the cheapest airline to fly to Cairns with?

Currently, Jetstar offers the cheapest flight tickets to Cairns.

Flying to Cairns

The things to know before you go.

Cheapest flight found	$71
Cheapest month to fly	August
Average flight time	2 hrs, 4 mins
Most popular airline	Qantas
Average flights per week	1,181

How to find cheap flights to Cairns Airport (CNS)

$144 is currently the cheapest price we've found for a return flight to Cairns Airport. For a one-way plane ticket to CNS, the lowest fare is $71.
Book when the time is right with Price Alerts. You'll receive an email or a notification on the app if the price of tickets to CNS rises or falls.
To find cheap tickets to Cairns, where Cairns Airport is located, book six months in advance. That's the general recommendation for landing the best deals.
Choose 'Add nearby airports' during your search for a better chance of securing cheap flights to Cairns. Doing this will give you more options for where you begin and end your journey, along with different prices.
Search for plane tickets to Cairns Airport that come with a stop. Indirect routes are often cheaper. Once your results appear, select the 'Stops' filter to explore your options.

Best time to go to Cairns

May is typically the cheapest month to jump on a flight to Cairns.
To find the cheapest month or even day for flights to CNS, use the 'Whole month' tool. If you're flexible with your dates, keep an eye out for the green prices on the calendar — they show you the lowest fares that are available.
Head to Cairns in July if you want to go when it's busy. This is the most popular month for flights to CNS, but also when tickets are typically more expensive.
Travel in February if you want to avoid the crowds. This is the quietest time of the year and also when plane tickets to Cairns are usually cheaper.
The weather can make or break a trip, so consider what type of conditions you prefer to travel in. Cairns is warmest in January, averaging between 23ºC and 31ºC.
Temperatures are at their lowest in August, when they range from 16ºC to 25ºC.

Flying to Cairns Airport (CNS): what you need to know

Get to Cairns without any stops. These are some of the airlines offering direct flights to Cairns Airport:
Whether you're arriving late or just want the convenience of staying close by, you'll find some good hotels near Cairns Airport. Kick back at one of these after your flight to CNS touches down:

Getting to central Cairns from Cairns Airport (CNS)

Central Cairns is about 6 kilometres from CNS.
Once you've touched down from your flight to CNS, reaching the centre by car will take around 10 minutes.
Expect the trip to take roughly 1 hour 25 minutes on public transport.
Make every moment in Cairns count by choosing one of these top hotels:

Cairns highlights

Kuranda Scenic Railway Freshwater Station

Around 8 kilometres north-west of the city centre, this popular sight deserves to be on your list of must-visits. Start your adventure here after your flight to Cairns Airport.

Cairns Esplanade Western High Water Pier

Always wanted to go to Cairns Esplanade Western High Water Pier? Now's the time. It's roughly 0.16 kilometres west of central Cairns.

Cairns Aquarium

Cairns Aquarium will easily be one of the big highlights of your trip. From the heart of the city, it's located around 0.48 kilometres to the west.

Complete your trip with a Cairns car hire

Choose from a selection of car rentals in Cairns and explore without limits. With one easy search, compare rates and find the best price after securing your hotel and cheap flight to Cairns Airport.