CNS - SYD

$84 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 4/2. 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 round-trip
$159
Overall average: $165
Jetstar
Sat 3/7Sat 3/14
CNS - SYD • Non-stop
Cheapest one-way
$84
Typical prices: $106-$209
Jetstar
Thu 4/2
CNS - SYD • Non-stop
Top airlines
Jetstar
Cheapest • from $159 (round-trip)
Virgin Australia
Best reviews • 7.5 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
+1
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
Nonstop flights
Every day
You can fly direct with Jetstar, Qantas Airways and Virgin Australia. Average duration is 2h 58m
Direct flights
Direct flights
+1
+1
Direct flights
Direct flights
+1
Avoid delays
Aruba Airlines
Most punctual • 94% on-time
Morning flights
Best time • Fewest delays
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to book
3 weeks
in advance
Our data shows that travelers who book at least 3 weeks in advance save around 29% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to travel
June
Cheapest • 18% 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 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

Sat, Mar 7 - Sat, Mar 14
Jetstar Logo
6:40 am - 10:40 am
CNS
-
SYD
3h 00mnonstop
Jetstar Logo
6:20 am - 8:20 am
SYD
-
CNS
3h 00mnonstop
$159Jetstar
Tue, Apr 21 - Tue, Apr 28
Jetstar Logo
7:10 pm - 10:05 pm
CNS
-
SYD
2h 55mnonstop
Jetstar Logo
10:30 am - 1:40 pm
SYD
-
CNS
3h 10mnonstop
$161Jetstar
Mon, Apr 20 - Wed, Apr 22
Jetstar Logo
7:10 pm - 10:05 pm
CNS
-
SYD
2h 55mnonstop
Jetstar Logo
3:15 pm - 6:25 pm
SYD
-
CNS
3h 10mnonstop
$162Jetstar
Sun, Mar 8 - Thu, Mar 12
Jetstar Logo
6:40 am - 10:40 am
CNS
-
SYD
3h 00mnonstop
Jetstar Logo
6:20 am - 8:20 am
SYD
-
CNS
3h 00mnonstop
$164Jetstar
Wed, Mar 4 - Sun, Mar 8
Jetstar Logo
6:40 am - 10:40 am
CNS
-
SYD
3h 00mnonstop
Jetstar Logo
6:20 am - 8:20 am
SYD
-
CNS
3h 00mnonstop
$171Jetstar
Thu, Mar 5 - Thu, Mar 12
Jetstar Logo
6:40 am - 10:40 am
CNS
-
SYD
3h 00mnonstop
Jetstar Logo
6:20 am - 8:20 am
SYD
-
CNS
3h 00mnonstop
$176Jetstar
Sat, Apr 4 - Sat, Apr 11
Jetstar Logo
9:15 am - 1:10 pm
CNS
-
SYD
2h 55mnonstop
Jetstar Logo
6:10 am - 9:20 am
SYD
-
CNS
3h 10mnonstop
$181Jetstar
Thu, Mar 5 - Sat, Mar 7
Jetstar Logo
6:40 am - 10:40 am
CNS
-
SYD
3h 00mnonstop
Jetstar Logo
6:20 am - 8:20 am
SYD
-
CNS
3h 00mnonstop
$183Jetstar
Sat, Apr 4 - Sat, Apr 11
Jetstar Logo
3:35 pm - 7:30 pm
CNS
-
SYD
2h 55mnonstop
Jetstar Logo
6:10 am - 9:20 am
SYD
-
CNS
3h 10mnonstop
$184Jetstar
Tue, Apr 21 - Tue, Apr 28
Multiple Airlines Logo
4:35 pm - 7:30 pm
CNS
-
SYD
2h 55mnonstop
Multiple Airlines Logo
10:30 am - 1:40 pm
SYD
-
CNS
3h 10mnonstop
$199Multiple Airlines
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.

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 Thursday and more expensive on a Monday. On your return trip to Cairns, you should consider flying back on a Sunday, 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 June, where tickets cost $153 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are April and October, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $246 and $232 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 $98, 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 3 weeks before departure, which saves you about 29% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 14 weeks before departure.

Good to know

Low seasonJanuary
Cheapest flight$84
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 16% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly with an average 31% 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 $84 for a one-way ticket and $159 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.

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

    The two airlines most popular with KAYAK users for flights from Cairns to Sydney are Virgin Australia and Jetstar. With an average price for the route of $259 and an overall rating of 7.5, Virgin Australia is the most popular choice. Jetstar is also a great choice for the route, with an average price of $200 and an overall rating of 6.5.

  • 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 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 $119 or less one-way and $86 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 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.
7.5
Virgin AustraliaOverall score based on 440 reviews
6.4Entertainment
7.5Comfort
8.2Crew
6.4Food
7.7Boarding
Airline reviews

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

6.0 GoodFernando, Feb 2026
HBA - PER
Read more Virgin Australia reviews

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

4.5 hr international flight. We got a glass of water. Ranks up there with Ryan Air, Easy Jet, Spirit and Frontier. Expected better.

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.

80 minute delay on departure based on two no show pax; removal of checked bags. Boarding very awkward, and waiting in terminal until specific rows called (not zones). Overhead not used for boarding, but specific staff member notifying people at the top of the stairs. Numerous people noted "this is confusing" on boarding. Seats ok, but entertainment (and food, and seat selection) all at extra cost. Smooth flight, and friendly neighbours.

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

Information on your arrival and departure airports