SYD - CNS

$83 Find Cheap Flights from Sydney to Cairns

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from Sydney to Cairns departing on 2/4. 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 Cairns

 
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Sydney to Cairns, 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 Sydney to Cairns, as well as popular online travel agencies
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Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$141
Typical prices: $165-$272
Jetstar
Fri 1/9Fri 1/16
SYD - CNS • Non-stop
Cheapest one-way
$83
Typical prices: $82-$140
Virgin Australia
Wed 2/4
SYD - CNS • Non-stop
Video guide: How to find cheap flights to Cairns
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When to book
4 weeks
in advance
Our data shows that travelers who book at least 4 weeks in advance save around 26% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to travel
March
Cheapest • 26% price drop
January
Most popular
Good to know
Good to know
+1
+1
Good to know
Good to know
+1
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We hope you love your trip to Cairns!
Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from Sydney to Cairns (SYD-CNS)

 
Here are some of the best deals found on KAYAK recently from the most popular airlines for round-trip flights from Sydney to Cairns 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 Sydney to Cairns

Fri, Jan 9 - Fri, Jan 16
Jetstar Logo
8:25 pm - 10:30 pmSYD-CNS
3h 05mnonstop
Jetstar Logo
6:05 pm - 10:05 pmCNS-SYD
3h 00mnonstop
$141Jetstar
Find Deal
Fri, Dec 12 - Sun, Dec 14
Jetstar Logo
8:25 pm - 10:30 pmSYD-CNS
3h 05mnonstop
Jetstar Logo
6:40 am - 10:40 amCNS-SYD
3h 00mnonstop
$142Jetstar
Find Deal
Mon, Jan 12 - Wed, Jan 14
Jetstar Logo
8:25 pm - 10:30 pmSYD-CNS
3h 05mnonstop
Jetstar Logo
6:05 pm - 10:05 pmCNS-SYD
3h 00mnonstop
$144Jetstar
Find Deal
Fri, Jan 9 - Thu, Jan 15
Jetstar Logo
8:25 pm - 10:30 pmSYD-CNS
3h 05mnonstop
Jetstar Logo
6:40 am - 10:40 amCNS-SYD
3h 00mnonstop
$146Jetstar
Find Deal
Mon, Jan 12 - Wed, Jan 14
Jetstar Logo
8:25 pm - 10:30 pmSYD-CNS
3h 05mnonstop
Jetstar Logo
6:05 pm - 10:05 pmCNS-SYD
3h 00mnonstop
$148Jetstar
Find Deal
Wed, Jan 14 - Wed, Jan 21
Jetstar Logo
3:25 pm - 5:30 pmSYD-CNS
3h 05mnonstop
Jetstar Logo
6:05 pm - 10:05 pmCNS-SYD
3h 00mnonstop
$151Jetstar
Find Deal
Wed, Jan 21 - Wed, Jan 21
Jetstar Logo
6:20 am - 8:20 amSYD-CNS
3h 00mnonstop
Jetstar Logo
6:05 pm - 10:05 pmCNS-SYD
3h 00mnonstop
$152Jetstar
Find Deal
Wed, Apr 22 - Wed, Apr 22
Virgin Australia Logo
12:40 pm - 3:55 pmSYD-CNS
3h 15mnonstop
Virgin Australia Logo
7:15 pm - 10:10 pmCNS-SYD
2h 55mnonstop
$154Virgin Australia
Find Deal
Thu, Feb 5 - Fri, Feb 6
Virgin Australia Logo
12:50 pm - 2:55 pmSYD-CNS
3h 05mnonstop
Virgin Australia Logo
3:45 pm - 7:45 pmCNS-SYD
3h 00mnonstop
$155Virgin Australia
Find Deal
Fri, Apr 17 - Wed, Apr 22
Virgin Australia Logo
3:10 pm - 6:25 pmSYD-CNS
3h 15mnonstop
Virgin Australia Logo
12:10 pm - 3:05 pmCNS-SYD
2h 55mnonstop
$156Virgin Australia
Find Deal
Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for Sydney to Cairns flights

Get data-powered insights and trends into flights from Sydney to Cairns to help you find the cheapest flights, the best time to fly and much more.

Find cheap flights to Cairns
Find cheap flights to Cairns

Planning a trip from Sydney to Cairns? KAYAK’s data-powered insights will help you find cheap flights. Learn the best time to fly, how early to book your ticket, and other tips to secure great prices.

How much is a round-trip flight from Sydney to Cairns?

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

What’s the cheapest day of the week to fly from Sydney to Cairns?

The average price of all round-trip flights from Sydney to Cairns clicked on KAYAK for each day over the last 12 months.

If you are looking for a flight deal from Sydney to Cairns, look for departures on Tuesdays and avoid leaving on a Thursday, as it's usually the priciest day. When flying back from Cairns, Saturday is the cheapest day to fly and Monday is the most expensive.

What is the cheapest month to fly from Sydney to Cairns?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights from Sydney to Cairns, 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 Sydney to Cairns is March, where tickets cost $151 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are April and December, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $263 and $256 respectively.

How far in advance should I book a flight from Sydney to Cairns?

To calculate weekly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each week before departure over the last year for round-trip flights from Sydney to Cairns, 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 Sydney to Cairns, you should book around 4 weeks before departure, which saves you about 26% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 5 weeks before departure.

Good to know

Low seasonFebruary
Cheapest flight$83
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 21% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly with an average 2% increase in price.
Flight from Sydney to Cairns

When to book flights from Sydney to Cairns

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from Sydney to Cairns 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 Sydney to Cairns

  • What lounges are available in the domestic terminals of Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport?

    If you’d like to relax in comfort before your flight, there are various lounge options in the domestic terminals of Sydney Airport. Terminal 3 has Qantas Business Lounge and The Qantas Club Lounge, which are both located in the departures area, opposite Gates 4 and 5. Terminal 2 has Virgin Australia Lounge, located after security near the main security checkpoint. Please check with your airline for your eligibility to use their lounge.

  • How do you get to Sydney Airport from the Sydney centre?

    There are many options to get from Sydney centre to Sydney Airport. The metro will get you to the airport from Central Station in about 15min. Be sure to get use your Opal card, if you have one, for discounted fares. You can also take a taxi or rideshare service; the cost depends on what part of Sydney you are heading to.

  • How is Cairns Airport accessible for people with disabilities?

    The airport has accessible toilets and public phones. It also has a number of hearing loops that reduce distortion and background noise for those using hearing aids. You can also request a disability-friendly taxi through the taxi concierge staff in the taxi area.

  • What is the cheapest flight from Sydney to Cairns?

    In the last 3 days, the lowest price for a flight from Sydney to Cairns was $83 for a one-way ticket and $141 for a round-trip.

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

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

  • Which aircraft models fly most regularly from Sydney to Cairns?

    The Boeing 737-800 Passenger/BBJ2 (winglets) is the aircraft model that flies most regularly on the Sydney to Cairns flight route.

  • Which airline alliances offer flights from Sydney to Cairns?

    oneworld is the only airline alliance operating flights between Sydney and Cairns.

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

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

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

    The two airlines most popular with KAYAK users for flights from Sydney to Cairns are Virgin Australia and Qantas Airways. With an average price for the route of $247 and an overall rating of 7.6, Virgin Australia is the most popular choice. Qantas Airways is also a great choice for the route, with an average price of $357 and an overall rating of 7.5.

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from Sydney to Cairns?

    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 Sydney to Cairns.

  • How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket from Sydney to Cairns?

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to Cairns from Sydney 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 Sydney to Cairns?

    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 Cairns with an airline and back to Sydney with another airline. Booking your flights between Sydney and CNS 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 Sydney to Cairns?

    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 Cairns from Sydney 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 Sydney to Cairns

  • Looking for a cheap flight? 25% of our users found flights on this route for $92 or less one-way and $197 or less round-trip.
  • If you are travelling with infants or young children, there are parents rooms and baby changing facilities in both Domestic Terminals 2 and 3 of Sydney Airport (SYD).
  • If you’re craving a coffee on arrival in Cairns, there is a Macchinetta in the arrival area of Cairns Airport (CNS) serving coffees as well as focaccias and paninis.
  • A great initiative at Sydney Airport is the Airport Ambassador Program. They are volunteers who give of their time each week to give passengers a warm welcome and assist anyone needing help with finding accommodation, facilities, transport or attractions. Look out for them in their bright blue shirts.

Prefer to fly direct from Sydney to Cairns?

 
Direct data is based off flight results for the next 60 days. Find direct flights from all airlines flying direct from Sydney Kingsford Smith to Cairns.
Find which airlines fly direct from Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport to Cairns Airport, which days they fly and book direct flights.

Direct departures

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

Direct returns

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

Reviews of the top 3 airlines serving from Sydney to Cairns

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from Sydney to Cairns. 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 Sydney to Cairns? 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.
7.6
Virgin AustraliaOverall score based on 424 reviews
7.7Boarding
6.4Entertainment
8.2Crew
7.5Comfort
6.4Food
Airline reviews

Plane was late and they wouldn’t check our bags through to Tokyo

6.0 GoodStephen, Oct 2025OOL - SYD
Read more Virgin Australia reviews

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.

Gluten free options less explicit on business class, but great service

Very good… seems the virgin staff particularly in the lounge and in flight exceeded expectations.

I liked everything about the experience but would have liked some free snacks!

Crew was great but flight was delayed almost three hours due to a technical issue and we had to go back to the terminal and wait for another one.

Being told why we delayed three hours and not even given an apology by someone. Not a word. Not my airline of choice ever.

Checked Baggage line up was long but moved quickly, rest of the process, boarding, crew was excellent

Excellent as always, I won't fly to Australia, and back to the US on any other airline. The flight crew is always top notch, and have a way to make one feel extra special. Thank you for your service, I would rate Qantas Airways a 10+.

After already paying for excess luggage prior to flight, i was advised AT check in that i had to pay $816 or forfeit my flight! The lady at the counter was SO rude and had already started offboarding me when i said i would pay it after asking her three times for the exact amount! Have lodged a formal complaint yet heard nothing. Will not ever travel via Qantas again

Basic airline, aircraft and service. AA gets you from point A to B. My flight was delayed by 2 hours too.

No internet on flight, which makes log travels really hard.

by the time they got to our row, they were out of some of the food options. games and movies were great but maybe more game options like tetris or pac man would be great

A few more inches of legroom is all i ask

Great as usual, some delays but well communicated and made up for in the air

Business class points redemption - good value for points paid, dubious value if out of your own pocket, domestic class business product okay for this length of flight. The flight left and arrived on time, crew were good, aircraft was a bit old and tired, but still miles ahead of their competitors in Virgin and Jetstar.

Airline running better than post Covid, proper boarding process now implemented, some aircraft feeling a bit old and tired, crew fine, online experience better.

Five hour flight instead of four hours due to westerly headwinds which wasn’t the fault of Qantas !

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 Sydney to Cairns

Information on your arrival and departure airports