$98 Find Cheap Flights from Melbourne to Cairns - Compare and Save

These are the earliest and latest flight times available from Melbourne Airport to Cairns:

• Earliest: departs at 6:05 am and lands at 9:28 am
• Latest: departs at 9:25 pm and lands at 12:48 am.

The flight takes about 3h 23m.

Three cabin classes are available on flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns:

• Economy Class
• Premium Economy Class
• Business Class

A nonstop flight from Melbourne Airport to Cairns takes 3h 23m, covering 1,436 miles.

No, a passport is not required for this domestic route, but you will need a real ID-compliant driver's license, a state ID or another TSA-accepted form of identification.

Round-trip flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns range from $202 to $349, with an average of $259 over the past 12 months. Anything below $202 counts as a good deal.

Last-minute fares on this route (booked within two weeks of departure) run 23% above the $259 route average. Book 9 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

On this route, nonstop flights are cheaper than layover options on average. Nonstop fares average $253 round-trip, compared to $382 via a layover through Sydney Kingsford Smith (SYD).

Virgin Australia is slightly above the route average for timely arrivals, while Qantas Airways has a lower on-time arrival rate. On-time arrival rates on Melbourne Airport to Cairns flights are:

• Virgin Australia: 88% on time
• Qantas Airways: 87% on time
• Jetstar: 73% on time

Overall, flights on this route are punctual 80% of the time on average.

There is no standard. Checked-bag policies vary by airline on this route. Most carriers charge $23–$100 for the first checked bag in economy. Premium fares and elite-status bookings typically include a free checked bag.

The Boeing 737-800 Passenger/BBJ2 (winglets) family is used most often on this route, operated mainly by Virgin Australia and Qantas Airways. Other aircraft seen on the route include Airbus A320-100/200 variants.

Morning is the busiest departure period on Melbourne Airport to Cairns flights, with 51% of flights leaving in that window. Afternoon departures account for 33%, evening flights for 16%, and night flights for 0%.

Yes. Based on fares seen in the past 5 days, round-trip prices on this route showed a wide range, from about $201 to $1,278. That means the highest observed fare was about 6x higher than the lowest one.

One-way fares from Melbourne Airport to Cairns are currently lower than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about $139, which is 11% below the typical average for this route.

Cairns Airport (CNS) hosts 5 major car rental companies, with daily rates starting from around $12 for economy cars. Top options include:

• Bargain Car Rentals
• East Coast Car Rentals
• Simba Car Hire
• Europcar
• Ace Rental Cars

Flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns usually depart from Melbourne (MEL) and arrive at Cairns (CNS).

Morning flights have the fewest delays on this route, while night departures tend to have the most.

A flight is considered delayed when it departs 15 minutes or more after its scheduled time. This is the standard used by the US Department of Transportation and most airline industry reporting. On the Melbourne Airport to Cairns route, 20% of flights were delayed in the past 3 months, with delays averaging 1h 40m.

Connecting flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns most commonly pass through:

• Brisbane (BNE) - 51% of one-stop connections
• Sydney Kingsford Smith (SYD) - 49% of one-stop connections

Yes. Flexible dates can save you up to 12% on flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns. Wednesday is the cheapest departure day at $243 round-trip on average, while Friday is the most expensive at $274, a difference of $31.

KAYAK's flexible dates feature shows options up to 3 days before and after your selected dates, making it easier to compare nearby fares.

3 airlines operate flights between Melbourne Airport and Cairns. The airlines offering nonstop flights on this route include:

• Jetstar
• Virgin Australia
• Qantas Airways

Flying via Sydney Kingsford Smith (SYD) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time at 6h 11m, compared with 7h 27m via Brisbane (BNE).

Cairns is 1 hour behind Melbourne Airport (Eastern Australia Time vs Eastern Australia Time). Plan for the time shift when scheduling connections or first-day activities.

Some of the most popular sights in Cairns are Cairns Convention Centre and Reef Hotel Casino. These are among the most viewed places in Cairns on KAYAK.

Among airlines operating Melbourne Airport to Cairns flights:

• Virgin Australia: offers free seat selection
• Qantas Airways: offers free seat selection

Extra legroom and free seat selection availability depends on fare class and route.

Here are some options for this route, based on selected ticket types and cabin classes:

• Jetstar: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy Class
• Virgin Australia: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy Class
• Qantas Airways: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy Class

Bag allowance can vary by ticket type, cabin class, route and airline, so always check the fare details before booking.

Yes – if you are considering booking a hotel close to the airport, check out The Lakes Cairns Resort & Spa or the Comfort Inn Discovery Cairns. Both of them are located a few minutes’ drive from the airport and provide transfers for an additional fee. For those who are travelling on a budget, Calypso Inn Backpackers Resort near the terminal building might be a better option.

Yes, you can choose from six car rental companies with counters in the Arrivals Hall at Cairns Airport. It is possible to check the full list of companies on the airport website and contact them to make all the necessary arrangements before your flight from Melbourne to Cairns.

Yes, there are a number of shops operating at the airport in Cairns, which between them sell a wide range of products. You will easily find snacks, travel accessories, cosmetics, reading material, souvenirs, electronics and some items of clothing.

The most convenient option for getting to your final destination from the airport is to book a hotel that offers airport transfers, but if this is not possible you can use the Sun Palm shuttle, which will drop you off in front of your hotel. To book the shuttle, simply look for the Sun Palm welcome desks at the airport. Passengers who prefer public transportation can catch the Airport Connect bus (a ticket costs $6) and then connect to a Translink bus costing around $2.