CNS - SYD

$82 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 3/13. 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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41,299,237 searches in the past 7 days on KAYAK

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Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$189
Typical prices: $151-$253
Multiple Airlines
Thu 1/1Thu 1/8
CNS - SYD • Non-stop
Cheapest one-way
$82
Typical prices: $75-$122
Jetstar
Fri 3/13
CNS - SYD • Non-stop
When to book
5 weeks
in advance
Our data shows that travelers who book at least 5 weeks in advance save around 29% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to travel
March
Cheapest • 26% price drop
December
Most popular
Good to know
Good to know
+1
+1
Good to know
Good to know
+1
Start a new search
KAYAK searches 100s 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 round-trip 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 round-trip flight deals from Cairns to Sydney

Thu, Jan 1 - Thu, Jan 8
Multiple Airlines Logo
10:55 am - 2:55 pmCNS-SYD
3h 00mnonstop
Multiple Airlines Logo
8:25 pm - 10:30 pmSYD-CNS
3h 05mnonstop
$189Multiple Airlines
Find Deal
Thu, Feb 5 - Sat, Feb 7
Virgin Australia Logo
3:45 pm - 7:45 pmCNS-SYD
3h 00mnonstop
Virgin Australia Logo
9:00 am - 2:00 pmSYD-CNS
6h 00m1 stop
$224Virgin Australia
Find Deal
Sat, Dec 13 - Sun, Dec 14
Virgin Australia Logo
11:40 am - 8:40 pmCNS-SYD
8h 00m1 stop
Virgin Australia Logo
8:10 am - 10:15 amSYD-CNS
3h 05mnonstop
$228Virgin Australia
Find Deal
Wed, Mar 25 - Sun, Mar 29
Virgin Australia Logo
3:45 pm - 7:45 pmCNS-SYD
3h 00mnonstop
Virgin Australia Logo
8:10 am - 10:25 amSYD-CNS
3h 15mnonstop
$230Virgin Australia
Find Deal
Wed, Mar 25 - Sun, Mar 29
Virgin Australia Logo
3:45 pm - 7:45 pmCNS-SYD
3h 00mnonstop
Virgin Australia Logo
3:10 pm - 5:25 pmSYD-CNS
3h 15mnonstop
$231Virgin Australia
Find Deal
Thu, Jan 1 - Thu, Jan 8
Multiple Airlines Logo
10:55 am - 2:55 pmCNS-SYD
3h 00mnonstop
Multiple Airlines Logo
6:10 am - 8:50 pmSYD-CNS
15h 40m1 stop
$236Multiple Airlines
Find Deal
Tue, Mar 10 - Sun, Mar 15
Jetstar Logo
6:05 pm - 10:05 pmCNS-SYD
3h 00mnonstop
Jetstar Logo
6:20 am - 8:20 amSYD-CNS
3h 00mnonstop
$242Jetstar
Find Deal
Wed, Mar 25 - Sun, Mar 29
Virgin Australia Logo
11:40 am - 6:10 pmCNS-SYD
5h 30m1 stop
Virgin Australia Logo
8:10 am - 10:25 amSYD-CNS
3h 15mnonstop
$244Virgin Australia
Find Deal
Wed, Mar 25 - Sun, Mar 29
Jetstar Logo
6:40 am - 10:40 amCNS-SYD
3h 00mnonstop
Jetstar Logo
3:15 pm - 5:20 pmSYD-CNS
3h 05mnonstop
$245Jetstar
Find Deal
Wed, Dec 3 - Wed, Dec 10
Virgin Australia Logo
9:15 am - 5:40 pmCNS-SYD
7h 25m1 stop
Virgin Australia Logo
10:00 am - 4:40 pmSYD-CNS
7h 40m1 stop
$266Virgin Australia
Find Deal
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 round-trip flight from Cairns to Sydney?

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

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.

Your flight ticket price will generally be cheaper if you fly to Sydney on a Saturday and more expensive on a Monday. On your return trip to Cairns, you should consider flying back on a Tuesday, and avoid Thursdays for better deals.

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 March, where tickets cost $142 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are November and April, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $239 and $237 respectively.

Can I save money by flying with a layover from Cairns to Sydney?

The average round-trip price for all non-stop flights, flights with one layover, and flights with two layovers for the route found by users searching on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks.

No, with an average price for the route of $267, prices are generally cheapest when you fly direct.

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 5 weeks before departure, which saves you about 29% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 25 weeks before departure.

Good to know

Low seasonFebruary
Cheapest flight$82
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 17% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly with an average 21% increase in price.
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 round-trip price
KAYAK looks at all historical flight data for each date to provide a predicted price for one-way trips or round-trips 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.

  • 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 $82 for a one-way ticket and $189 for a round-trip.

  • Do I need a passport to fly between Cairns and Sydney?

    A passport is not required to fly from Cairns to Sydney.

  • Which airports will I be using when flying from Cairns to Sydney?

    Cairns and Sydney are both served by 1 main airport. You will leave Cairns from Cairns and will be arriving at Sydney Kingsford Smith.

  • 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.

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

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

  • 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 round-trip ticket. You could then fly to Sydney with an airline and back to Cairns with another airline. Booking your flights between Cairns and SYD can sometimes prove cheaper using this method.

  • 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 $113 or less one-way and $167 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.

Prefer to fly direct from Cairns to Sydney?

 
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 airline 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.
6.6
JetstarOverall score based on 485 reviews
6.4Comfort
6.8Boarding
5.1Entertainment
5.7Food
7.3Crew
Airline reviews

Delayed twice. Poor communication and people made to change gates too often.

4.0 OkayJennifer, Nov 2025MEL - OOL
Read more Jetstar reviews

Delayed twice. Poor communication and people made to change gates too often.

Very disappointed with my recent Jetstar experience. Firstly, it was extremely frustrating that we had to pay extra for basic things like in-flight entertainment and meals. Other airlines provide these essentials even with standard tickets, but Jetstar offered no comfort or amenities without additional charges. For a long international journey, this made the experience very uncomfortable. On top of that, there was a delay on our flight from Melbourne to Bangkok due to parts replacement, which was already inconvenient. But the biggest issue was the massive 5 hours and 15 minutes delay on our return flight, which completely disrupted our plans, caused unnecessary stress, and impacted both our time and health. Jetstar provided vouchers, but they were not nearly sufficient to cover proper meals or any meaningful service at Bangkok Airport. After such a long delay, this felt extremely inadequate and did not compensate for the inconvenience we faced. Overall, this has been one of my worst travel experiences. I am extremely disappointed and will not be booking with Jetstar in the future. I strongly request Jetstar to provide additional compensation for the significant delays and the discomfort we had to go through.

Excellent help with Wife needing disability access at Brisbane airport

The flight was delayed by 2 hours but the Jetstar crew were fantastic.

Late leaving and desintuon board showed ‘gate closed’ when they hadn’t even commenced boarding!

Flight was delayed more than 1.5 hours. Gate changed multiple times

The good thing is that the flight got us from Darwin to Brisbane. However, it would have to be the most uncomfortable flight I have ever taken and if I can possibly avoid flying Jetstar again, I will.

no announcement about why we where delayed which is very poor

It was better than I expected. Thought $5 for a small cup of tea was a bit much!

Overall good trip I find seats a bit hard. We were waiting on board for about an hour for 2 passengers with some document issue. This main our arrival late for our pickup person.

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

Information on your arrival and departure airports