This is the cheapest retur flight price found by a Cheapflights user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight departing on 16/12. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
SYD — CNS
20 Nov — 27 Nov1
Return
1 adult
Economy
Return
1 adult, Economy, 0 bags
Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from Sydney Kingsford Smith to Cairns are usually found in January or March, booked 73 days in advance, depart on a Wednesday or Sunday and return on a Wednesday
Cheap flight deals from Sydney to Cairns
Enter your travel dates to find the best prices.
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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 21 October 2026.
Fri 4/1215:25 -
Nonstop3h 05m
Fri 11/1217:35 -
Nonstop3h 00m
Deal found 20/10$260
Tue 1/1215:25 -
Nonstop3h 05m
Wed 16/1206:40 -
Nonstop3h 00m
Deal found 20/10$262
Tue 1/1215:25 -
Nonstop3h 05m
Tue 8/1218:05 -
Nonstop3h 00m
Deal found 19/10$263
Sat 5/1211:25 -
Nonstop3h 05m
Sat 12/1218:05 -
Nonstop3h 00m
Deal found 20/10$264
Fri 4/1215:25 -
Nonstop3h 05m
Fri 11/1218:05 -
Nonstop3h 00m
Deal found 20/10$266
Fri 4/1215:25 -
Nonstop3h 05m
Mon 7/1218:05 -
Nonstop3h 00m
Deal found 20/10$267
Thu 10/1214:40 -
Nonstop3h 05m
Sun 13/1206:40 -
Nonstop3h 00m
Deal found 19/10$270
Sat 5/1208:10 -
Nonstop3h 05m
Sat 12/1218:05 -
Nonstop3h 00m
Deal found 20/10$273
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 21 October 2026.
Wed 16/1211:25 -
Nonstop3h 05m
Sun 20/1206:40 -
Nonstop3h 00m
Deal found 17/10$267
Fri 4/1209:00 -
1 stop6h 00m
Fri 11/1217:35 -
Nonstop3h 00m
Deal found 20/10$380
Wed 4/1115:25 -
Nonstop3h 05m
Sat 7/1106:40 -
Nonstop3h 00m
Deal found 16/10$435
Fri 13/1106:00 -
1 stop6h 00m
Fri 20/1109:15 -
1 stop4h 25m
Deal found 16/10$452
Thu 3/1209:00 -
1 stop6h 00m
Sun 13/1206:00 -
1 stop6h 40m
Deal found 16/10$452
Tue 17/1106:20 -
Nonstop3h 00m
Tue 24/1118:05 -
Nonstop3h 00m
Deal found 20/10$463
Thu 3/1209:00 -
1 stop6h 00m
Thu 10/1214:40 -
1 stop6h 45m
Deal found 19/10$453
Fri 18/1219:30 -
1 stop4h 35m
Mon 21/1206:00 -
1 stop6h 40m
Deal found 17/10$453
Mon 23/1118:00 -
1 stop6h 05m
Sun 29/1114:40 -
1 stop6h 45m
Deal found 17/10$453
Sat 14/1108:30 -
1 stop6h 30m
Tue 17/1111:40 -
1 stop6h 00m
Deal found 20/10$456
Thu 10/1207:30 -
1 stop4h 30m
Sun 13/1206:00 -
1 stop6h 40m
Deal found 20/10$456
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 21 October 2026.
Fri 4/1215:25 -
Nonstop3h 05m
Fri 11/1217:35 -
Nonstop3h 00m
Deal found 20/10$260
Tue 1/1215:25 -
Nonstop3h 05m
Wed 16/1206:40 -
Nonstop3h 00m
Deal found 20/10$262
Tue 1/1215:25 -
Nonstop3h 05m
Tue 8/1218:05 -
Nonstop3h 00m
Deal found 19/10$263
Sat 5/1211:25 -
Nonstop3h 05m
Sat 12/1218:05 -
Nonstop3h 00m
Deal found 20/10$264
Fri 4/1215:25 -
Nonstop3h 05m
Fri 11/1218:05 -
Nonstop3h 00m
Deal found 20/10$266
Fri 4/1215:25 -
Nonstop3h 05m
Mon 7/1218:05 -
Nonstop3h 00m
Deal found 20/10$267
Mon 11/120:30 -
Nonstop3h 05m
Sat 16/109:05 -
Nonstop2h 55m
Deal found 21/10$270
Sat 5/1208:10 -
Nonstop3h 05m
Sat 12/1218:05 -
Nonstop3h 00m
Deal found 20/10$273
Last-minute flights from Sydney to Cairns
Discover last-minute flight deals from Sydney to Cairns. Data last updated 21 October 2026 and is based on user searches.
Fri 23/1020:15 -
Nonstop3h 10m
Sat 31/1018:05 -
Nonstop3h 00m
Deal found 16/10$347
Sat 24/1020:15 -
Nonstop3h 10m
Wed 4/1118:05 -
Nonstop3h 00m
Deal found 18/10$343
Sat 24/1006:10 -
Nonstop3h 10m
Sat 31/1018:05 -
Nonstop3h 00m
Deal found 16/10$346
Sat 24/1020:15 -
Nonstop3h 10m
Mon 2/1106:40 -
Nonstop3h 00m
Deal found 19/10$359
Tue 27/1006:20 -
Nonstop3h 00m
Tue 3/1118:05 -
Nonstop3h 00m
Deal found 16/10$365
Fri 20/1106:20 -
Nonstop3h 00m
Thu 3/1218:05 -
Nonstop3h 00m
Deal found 20/10$323
Fri 20/1106:20 -
Nonstop3h 00m
Thu 3/1217:35 -
Nonstop3h 00m
Deal found 19/10$352
Thu 26/1106:20 -
Nonstop3h 00m
Wed 2/1218:05 -
Nonstop3h 00m
Deal found 18/10$320
Sat 28/1106:20 -
Nonstop3h 00m
Tue 1/1206:40 -
Nonstop3h 00m
Deal found 19/10$277
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 21 October 2026.
Wed 16/1208:10 -
Nonstop3h 05m
Wed 31/1200:00 -
Nonstop0h 00m
Deal found 20/10$147
Sat 24/1020:15 -
Nonstop3h 10m
Wed 31/1200:00 -
Nonstop0h 00m
Deal found 20/10$149
Sat 21/1106:20 -
Nonstop3h 00m
Wed 31/1200:00 -
Nonstop0h 00m
Deal found 20/10$150
Mon 14/1208:10 -
Nonstop3h 05m
Wed 31/1200:00 -
Nonstop0h 00m
Deal found 19/10$153
Thu 17/1208:10 -
Nonstop3h 05m
Wed 31/1200:00 -
Nonstop0h 00m
Deal found 21/10$154
Sun 6/1208:10 -
Nonstop3h 05m
Wed 31/1200:00 -
Nonstop0h 00m
Deal found 21/10$156
Wed 16/1215:25 -
Nonstop3h 05m
Wed 31/1200:00 -
Nonstop0h 00m
Deal found 20/10$163
Find flight deals from Sydney to Cairns
Discover tips and strategies to find the most affordable flight options for your journey from Sydney (SYD) to Cairns (CNS). Learn about various techniques such as flexible date searches, comparing prices across and setting up price alerts. Use these methods to find the cheapest flights available for your travel needs. Data last updated 21 October 2026.
Customise your flight search to find flights from Sydney to Cairns that fit within your specific budget. Explore options based on user searches and filter the results based on your desired price range. Find flights that match your budget for a cost-effective journey. Over the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made 7,457,451 searches. Data last updated 21 October 2026.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from Sydney to Cairns that are best for you.
Fly from
Fly to
Route
Depart
Return
Price
Cheapest return flight
SydneyCairns
SYD Sydney Kingsford Smith - CNS Cairns
SYDCNS
Sydney Kingsford Smith
Mon 7/12
11:25-13:30
Nonstop3h 05m
Cairns
Wed 31/12
00:00-00:00
Nonstop0h 00m
$170
Fastest return journey
SydneyCairns
SYD Sydney Kingsford Smith - CNS Cairns
SYDCNS
Sydney Kingsford Smith
Mon 30/11
06:20-08:20
Nonstop3h 00m
Cairns
Wed 31/12
00:00-00:00
Nonstop0h 00m
$170
SydneyCairns
SYD Sydney Kingsford Smith - CNS Cairns
SYDCNS
Sydney Kingsford Smith
Tue 17/11
06:20-08:20
Nonstop3h 00m
Cairns
Wed 31/12
00:00-00:00
Nonstop0h 00m
$194
SydneyCairns
SYD Sydney Kingsford Smith - CNS Cairns
SYDCNS
Sydney Kingsford Smith
Sat 7/11
06:20-08:20
Nonstop3h 00m
Cairns
Wed 31/12
00:00-00:00
Nonstop0h 00m
$219
SydneyCairns
SYD Sydney Kingsford Smith - CNS Cairns
SYDCNS
Sydney Kingsford Smith
Sun 8/11
10:30-14:00
1 stop4h 30m
Cairns
Wed 31/12
00:00-00:00
Nonstop0h 00m
$226
SydneyCairns
SYD Sydney Kingsford Smith - CNS Cairns
SYDCNS
Sydney Kingsford Smith
Sun 15/11
18:30-23:05
1 stop5h 35m
Cairns
Wed 31/12
00:00-00:00
Nonstop0h 00m
$226
SydneyCairns
SYD Sydney Kingsford Smith - CNS Cairns
SYDCNS
Sydney Kingsford Smith
Tue 15/12
08:30-14:00
1 stop6h 30m
Cairns
Wed 31/12
00:00-00:00
Nonstop0h 00m
$227
SydneyCairns
SYD Sydney Kingsford Smith - CNS Cairns
SYDCNS
Sydney Kingsford Smith
Sun 1/11
10:30-14:00
1 stop4h 30m
Cairns
Wed 31/12
00:00-00:00
Nonstop0h 00m
$227
SydneyCairns
SYD Sydney Kingsford Smith - CNS Cairns
SYDCNS
Sydney Kingsford Smith
Thu 17/12
19:00-23:05
1 stop5h 05m
Cairns
Wed 31/12
00:00-00:00
Nonstop0h 00m
$227
SydneyCairns
SYD Sydney Kingsford Smith - CNS Cairns
SYDCNS
Sydney Kingsford Smith
Tue 22/12
09:00-14:00
1 stop6h 00m
Cairns
Wed 31/12
00:00-00:00
Nonstop0h 00m
$227
Flights are sorted by cheapest return flights first.
Deals found on 19/10
Showing 1-10 of 22 resultsSorted by cheapest first
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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.
SYD-CNS
Estimated return price
Rates are based on past data. Find the cheapest month and day to book your flight based on your travel requirements, then search for cheap deals.
Cheapflights Insights
Everything you need to know about your flight from Sydney to Cairns
Prices
Delays
How far ahead should I book a flight from Sydney to Cairns?
Booking 72 days in advance of your planned departure date is, on average, the best time to get cheap flights from Sydney to Cairns. The general trend is that the closer you book to the departure date, the more expensive your flight will be.
What is the cheapest month to book a flight from Sydney to Cairns?
Currently, January is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Sydney to Cairns (average of $276). Flying from Sydney to Cairns in December is currently the most expensive (average of $410). 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.
What is the cheapest time of day to fly from SYD to CNS?
Find hourly flight availability from Sydney to Cairns. Discover flight options and departure times throughout the day, allowing you to choose a departure time that suits your schedule. Data last updated 21 October 2026.
When flying from Sydney to Cairns, the time of day you fly usually plays a role in the price. Save by searching for a flight in the afternoon, which can drop the price by up to 14% versus a flight in the morning.
What is the cheapest day to fly from Sydney to Cairns?
Use this chart to determine the cheapest time to fly return from Sydney to Cairns. Price data was last updated on 17 October 2026.
Travellers seeking maximum savings on their Sydney to Cairns flight should consider departing on Sunday evenings when fares are most often at their lowest. Wednesday 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 below average for this route at the moment.
Sydney to Cairns flights typically cost between $289 and $477 in December.The cheapest return price found within the last 5 days was $260 on Multiple Airlines (4 Dec–11 Dec).
How often are flights from Sydney to Cairns delayed?
About 17% of weekly flights between Sydney and Cairns have experienced delays in the past year, with the average delay time being 107 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?
Wednesday tends to have the lowest number of delays on this route, whereas Saturday 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 12% 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 21 October 2026.
Get a feel of what it's like to fly with Virgin Australia,Qantas Airways, andJetstar from Sydney to Cairns by reading reviews from past customers. Users have also rated airlines in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
Starting to be as efficient as qantas… bar the food offerings Virgin is up there now
Related info for your journey
Find useful and relevant information for your journey from Sydney to Cairns. Access travel guides, tips, and recommendations to enhance your travel experience. Get information about local attractions, weather, transportation options, and more.
What airports do I use to fly from Sydney to Cairns?
If you book a flight from Sydney to Cairns, you will be flying from Kingsford Smith to Cairns. Flights to Cairns (CNS) from Sydney Kingsford Smith (SYD) take 3h 00m for a nonstop flight. There are 29 flights from Kingsford Smith to Cairns per day from 3 airlines.
How popular is this Sydney to Cairns flight route?
Flights from Sydney Kingsford Smith to Cairns have been viewed 4,227 times in the past calendar month.
How long is the flight from Sydney to Cairns?
Airlines like Jetstar and Virgin Australia fly from Sydney to Cairns in about 3h 05m. The time it takes to get you to your destination can typically vary by up to 2h 55m. Sydney and Cairns are separated by a distance of 1970 km. This flight may include one or multiple stops.
What are the cheapest airlines flying from Sydney to Cairns round-trip?
Cheapflights users have booked flights from Sydney to Cairns round-trip from $124. Other airlines that can offer you cheap pricing are Virgin Australia, from $148, and Qantas Airways, from $194. Jetstar is currently priced 63% below the average price you’ll pay for this route.
What are the cheapest airlines to fly from Sydney to Cairns one-way?
The cheapest airline one-way is Jetstar, with whom users have recently found tickets for as low as $106. However, be on the lookout for offers from Virgin Australia and Qantas Airways, as they are both options that can get you from Sydney to Cairns for a low price.
What are the most reliable airlines from Sydney to Cairns?
Before booking your flight to Cairns from Sydney, have a look at the most reliable airlines to get you to your destination on time: Air India (91%), Air Canada (89%), United Airlines( 89%).
What are the cheapest flights from Sydney to Cairns?
While on average a flight from Sydney to Cairns is generally $1,274, our data shows the cheapest flight currently is $113. When looking at the most popular route, (Sydney Kingsford Smith - Cairns), you can expect to pay $220 for that flight.
Can I find deals for business class flights from Sydney to Cairns?
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.
What is the cheapest month to book a flight from Sydney to Cairns?
Currently, January is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Sydney to Cairns (average of $276). Flying from Sydney to Cairns in December is currently the most expensive (average of $410). 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.
Book flights to Cairns if you plan to visit one of these locations
Mission Beach
Trinity Beach
Browse thousands of different options on Cheapflights for your next trip
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Fly from Sydney to Cairns on these airlines
Choose from the following airlines for your flight from Sydney to Cairns. Flights are based on user searches made on Cheapflights and were last updated on 21 October 2026.
Explore flights to Cairns departing from other origins. Flights are based on user searches made on Cheapflights and were last updated on 21 October 2026.
Discover the top 3 airlines that operate flights from Sydney to Cairns. Compare their services, reliability, and customer satisfaction ratings to choose the airline that best suits your travel preferences and needs. Over the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made 7,457,451 searches. Data last updated 21 October 2026.
Find the best flight deals on Cheapflights, where travellers can enjoy low prices and a wide availability of flights to their desired destinations.
How does Cheapflights help users find flights from Sydney to Cairns?
Cheapflights goes through 900+ travel sites to look for the best flight deals for flights from Sydney to Cairns. Too many options? Cheapflights also provides filters for things like airlines, price ranges, and number of stops to help you make a decision easily.
Why should you use Cheapflights to find cheap flight tickets from Sydney to Cairns?
Cheapflights simply makes it quick and affordable to book flights from Sydney to Cairns by bringing together all flight options from hundreds of airlines and agencies online — and put it in one place for you to choose from. Plus, Cheapflights is 100% free to use for all.
Can Cheapflights find flights from Sydney to Cairns with no change fees?
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.
Can Cheapflights notify me if prices for flights from Sydney to Cairns become cheaper?
Yes, and it’s super simple to set up. Click the bell icon next to the flight deals above and provide a valid email address to enable Price Alerts. That’s it!
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