SYD - CNS

$71 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 11/15. 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

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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Flight Deals
Useful Info
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

Do, Sep 11 - Do, Sep 18
Jetstar Logo
6:10 am - 9:15 amSYD-CNS
3h 05mnonstop
Jetstar Logo
7:00 pm - 9:55 pmCNS-SYD
2h 55mnonstop
$141Jetstar
Find Deal
Mo, Sep 8 - Mo, Sep 15
Jetstar Logo
7:45 pm - 10:50 pmSYD-CNS
3h 05mnonstop
Jetstar Logo
6:45 am - 9:45 amCNS-SYD
3h 00mnonstop
$142Jetstar
Find Deal
Di, Jan 13 - Sa, Jan 17
Virgin Australia Logo
2:40 pm - 4:45 pmSYD-CNS
3h 05mnonstop
Virgin Australia Logo
3:45 pm - 7:45 pmCNS-SYD
3h 00mnonstop
$143Virgin Australia
Find Deal
So, Aug 31 - Fr, Sep 5
Jetstar Logo
6:10 am - 9:15 amSYD-CNS
3h 05mnonstop
Jetstar Logo
7:00 pm - 9:55 pmCNS-SYD
2h 55mnonstop
$145Jetstar
Find Deal
Mo, Okt 20 - Sa, Okt 25
Jetstar Logo
3:10 pm - 5:15 pmSYD-CNS
3h 05mnonstop
Jetstar Logo
6:00 pm - 9:55 pmCNS-SYD
2h 55mnonstop
$147Jetstar
Find Deal
Do, Aug 28 - Mo, Sep 15
Jetstar Logo
7:45 pm - 10:50 pmSYD-CNS
3h 05mnonstop
Jetstar Logo
6:45 am - 9:45 amCNS-SYD
3h 00mnonstop
$148Jetstar
Find Deal
Do, Okt 16 - Fr, Okt 17
Jetstar Logo
8:45 pm - 10:50 pmSYD-CNS
3h 05mnonstop
Jetstar Logo
6:00 pm - 9:55 pmCNS-SYD
2h 55mnonstop
$149Jetstar
Find Deal
Fr, Nov 7 - Mo, Nov 10
Virgin Australia Logo
2:40 pm - 4:45 pmSYD-CNS
3h 05mnonstop
Virgin Australia Logo
5:35 pm - 9:35 pmCNS-SYD
3h 00mnonstop
$150Virgin Australia
Find Deal
Do, Okt 16 - Fr, Okt 24
Virgin Australia Logo
2:40 pm - 4:55 pmSYD-CNS
3h 15mnonstop
Virgin Australia Logo
5:45 pm - 9:40 pmCNS-SYD
2h 55mnonstop
$163Virgin Australia
Find Deal
Di, Aug 26 - Do, Aug 28
 Logo
3:10 pm - 6:15 pmSYD-CNS
3h 05mnonstop
 Logo
7:15 pm - 10:10 pmCNS-SYD
2h 55mnonstop
Useful Info

Good to know

Low seasonFebruary
Cheapest flight$71
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 21% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly with an average 28% 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.
  • 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.

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 $94 or less one-way and $179 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

ANA, Air Canada, Air India, +16 more

ANA, Air Canada, +17 more

Tuesday

ANA, Air Canada, Air India, +16 more

ANA, Air Canada, +17 more

Wednesday

ANA, Air Canada, Air India, +16 more

ANA, Air Canada, +17 more

Thursday

ANA, Air Canada, Air India, +16 more

ANA, Air Canada, +17 more

Friday

ANA, Air Canada, Air India, +16 more

ANA, Air Canada, +17 more

Saturday

ANA, Air Canada, Air India, +16 more

ANA, Air Canada, +17 more

Sunday

ANA, Air Canada, Air India, +16 more

ANA, Air Canada, +17 more

See more direct flights

Direct returns

Cairns to Sydney Kingsford Smith

Monday

ANA, Air Canada, Air France, +15 more

ANA, Air Canada, +16 more

Tuesday

ANA, Air Canada, Air France, +15 more

ANA, Air Canada, +16 more

Wednesday

ANA, Air Canada, Air France, +15 more

ANA, Air Canada, +16 more

Thursday

ANA, Air Canada, Air France, +15 more

ANA, Air Canada, +16 more

Friday

ANA, Air Canada, Air France, +15 more

ANA, Air Canada, +16 more

Saturday

ANA, Air Canada, Air France, +15 more

ANA, Air Canada, +16 more

Sunday

ANA, Air Canada, Air France, +15 more

ANA, Air Canada, +16 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.
7.5
Qantas AirwaysOverall score based on 893 reviews
7.7Boarding
8.2Crew
7.2Entertainment
6.9Food
7.4Comfort
Airline reviews

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

8.0 ExcellentIan, Aug 2025SYD - AKL
Read more Qantas Airways reviews

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 !

I tried to check in online but was unable to do so. I stood in line for nearly two hours to check in. American Airlines was understaffed. When I finally got to the kiosk to check in, I was still unable to check in. No AA staff was available to help. Finally one of the airport security agents who was helping passengers became of lack of AA Staff told me: “I think the reason you can’t check in is that you are starting your name with an upper case letter when you write it. Just write it with all lower case letters.” That did allow me to check in. HOW COULD ANYONE POSSIBLY KNOW THAT IF THEY USE AN INITIAL UPPER CASE LETTER TO SPELL THEIR OWN NAME, AA WOULD NOT ALLOW THEM TO CHECK IN?????? Then I had to wait in line over half an hour again to drop off my baggage. Although I arrived at the airport 3 hours early, by the time I got to the gate, they had already started boarding.

One of the oldest most uncomfortable "lay down" seats I've ever experienced. Old plane and old seats that don't lay flat. The seat back does not even recline - at all. Instead the legrest awkwardly extends to fill the gap between a small cubby into which you must insert your feet/legs. I am 5' 11" and could not lay straight but had to tuck my knees. Ticket was also very expensive. Would not recommend flying business/first on Finair from Melbourne to Bangkok and will not do so again myself.

The wifi was out. Otherwise it was great flight. Richard, as CSM, was excellent.

Was bumped to a later flight because of inefficiency on part of the airline.

The Emerits/Qantas flight was cancelled to Wellington. We need a refund. Had to buy another airline ticket. How do we get the refund. Still not in Wellington.

Delayed QF59 flight once again, Qantas doesn't fail in maintaining there delayed departures and arrivals. USB points do not work nor do the power point sockets on the plane, Qantas staff admitted that on the flight. Don't expect to your charge devices. Saving grace, was the ice cream. Bottom line, if you expect to fly to HND and make it on time avoid Qantas and if you're interested in ice cream - visit 7/11.

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

Virgin has always provided a smooth and comfortable flight. This one was no different. Seats are comfortable. Staff are great. This is my favourite airline.

Virgin changed the flight to an Alliance flight. Smaller plane, tea coffee and water the only refreshments available and not sure what happened to the extra money I paid to sit in a selected seat with extra leg room. This is obviously a regular switch as it happened on our flight there and back. Do not recommend.

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.

15kg allowance is outrageous. Change of time a few days before departure and more than 2 hours of delay in the end. The worse we’ve taken so far in Oceania.

stuck in the aircraft for over three hours due to engineering work, significantly delayed and made a lot of passengers missed the connecting transport, no mention any compensation

Very quiet plane!! One of the quietest planes we have been on.

Jetsatar refused to take my foldable stroller in the plane, despite following all the rules on dimensions and packaging. Similar thing happened on our previous fight. However, at that instance, they offered to check in the stroller. At this fight, the staff was rude, trying to rush us to board the flight. They made excuses that the stroller was not allowed and even offer to leave it behind and ship it back at our own cost. Fortunately, we had someone else attending. Since the flight was about to take off, they left it behind and send it back to us on the next available flight.

Overall, it was good. The only concern was that I couldn't charge my phone because the USB port didn't work after we took off. One of the crew members tried to restart it but never came back to me with an update.

Comfortable seats, boarding was easy and staff were very nice.

Flight was fine but a domestic flight was called by Jetstar international. This meant going through immigration and custom scanning twice. Long queues were experienced which were frustrating. We were using a wheelchair and exit at Perth needed a scissor lift as no air bridge provided. No fast lane at Perth for wheelchair. The staff were helpful but this system is poor.

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

Information on your arrival and departure airports

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