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CNS - SYD

$86 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 2/20. 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.
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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
In the last 7 days travelers have searched 46,479,581 times on KAYAK, and here is why:

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Cheap Flight Deals from Cairns to Sydney (CNS-SYD)

 
These are the cheapest deals for flights from Cairns to Sydney currently on KAYAK along with options from the most popular airlines KAYAK users selected for this route. While these flights were available on KAYAK in the last 72 hours, prices and availability are subject to change and deals may expire.

Recent round-trip flight deals from Cairns to Sydney

Recommended round-trip deals departing in the coming months from the most popular airlines that fly from Cairns to Sydney.

Recent one-way flight deals from Cairns to Sydney

Only flying one-way? Below are some of the best one-way flight deals from Cairns to Sydney found on KAYAK recently.

Recent last minute flight deals from Cairns to Sydney

Leaving soon but still want a bargain? Check out these latest deals for last minute flights from Cairns to Sydney.

Recent direct flight deals from Cairns to Sydney

The latest deals for direct flights from Cairns to Sydney so you can sit back and relax without the need for a layover.

Cheap bus & train deals from Cairns to Sydney

Find recent round-trip train or bus tickets from Cairns to Sydney.

All round-trip flight deals to Sydney

The cheapest plane tickets to Sydney found on KAYAK recently.
Discover the best prices and deals for you by selecting your travel dates.
Choose your dates
6:40 am - 10:40 amCNS-SYD
3h 00mnonstop
6:00 am - 8:00 amSYD-CNS
3h 00mnonstop
$155Jetstar
Find Deal
Thu, Dec 12 - Sun, Dec 15
6:20 pm - 10:20 pmCNS-SYD
3h 00mnonstop
3:35 pm - 5:35 pmSYD-CNS
3h 00mnonstop
$156Jetstar
Find Deal
Sun, Mar 9 - Fri, Mar 21
6:20 pm - 10:20 pmCNS-SYD
3h 00mnonstop
6:00 am - 8:00 amSYD-CNS
3h 00mnonstop
$164Jetstar
Find Deal
Wed, Dec 11 - Thu, Dec 12
6:20 pm - 10:20 pmCNS-SYD
3h 00mnonstop
8:25 pm - 10:30 pmSYD-CNS
3h 05mnonstop
$173Jetstar
Find Deal
Tue, Dec 24 - Wed, Jan 15
6:40 am - 10:40 amCNS-SYD
3h 00mnonstop
11:30 am - 1:30 pmSYD-CNS
3h 00mnonstop
$184Jetstar
Find Deal
Tue, Dec 10 - Sat, Dec 14
6:20 pm - 10:20 pmCNS-SYD
3h 00mnonstop
6:20 am - 11:15 amSYD-CNS
5h 55m1 stop
$204Jetstar
Find Deal
Wed, Feb 12 - Sun, Feb 16
9:15 am - 2:40 pmCNS-SYD
4h 25m1 stop
6:00 am - 8:00 amSYD-CNS
3h 00mnonstop
Wed, Dec 11 - Thu, Dec 12
5:35 pm - 9:35 pmCNS-SYD
3h 00mnonstop
10:30 am - 2:00 pmSYD-CNS
4h 30m1 stop
$213Virgin Australia
Find Deal
Thu, Dec 12 - Sun, Dec 15
11:40 am - 6:40 pmCNS-SYD
6h 00m1 stop
6:00 am - 11:00 amSYD-CNS
6h 00m1 stop
$249Virgin Australia
Find Deal
Sun, Mar 9 - Fri, Mar 21
9:15 am - 2:40 pmCNS-SYD
4h 25m1 stop
7:00 pm - 11:15 pmSYD-CNS
5h 15m1 stop
$275Virgin Australia
Find Deal
Mon, Dec 23 - Tue, Jan 14
6:40 am - 10:40 amCNS-SYD
3h 00mnonstop
$86Jetstar
Find Deal
Thu, Feb 20
5:35 pm - 9:35 pmCNS-SYD
3h 00mnonstop
$89Virgin Australia
Find Deal
Sat, Dec 21
6:40 am - 10:40 amCNS-SYD
3h 00mnonstop
$92Jetstar
Find Deal
Fri, Mar 21
5:35 pm - 9:35 pmCNS-SYD
3h 00mnonstop
$112Virgin Australia
Find Deal
Thu, Dec 12
6:40 am - 10:40 amCNS-SYD
3h 00mnonstop
$116Jetstar
Find Deal
Fri, Dec 6
2:40 pm - 10:25 pmCNS-SYD
6h 45m1 stop
$125Virgin Australia
Find Deal
Tue, Nov 26
6:20 pm - 10:20 pmCNS-SYD
3h 00mnonstop
$130Jetstar
Find Deal
Mon, Nov 25
6:00 am - 2:40 pmCNS-SYD
7h 40m1 stop
$135Virgin Australia
Find Deal
Thu, Nov 28
5:30 pm - 9:25 pmCNS-SYD
2h 55mnonstop
$150Qantas Airways
Find Deal
Thu, Dec 26
5:30 pm - 9:25 pmCNS-SYD
2h 55mnonstop
$171Qantas Airways
Find Deal
Sat, Nov 23
6:40 am - 10:40 amCNS-SYD
3h 00mnonstop
6:00 am - 8:00 amSYD-CNS
3h 00mnonstop
$155Jetstar
Find Deal
Thu, Dec 12 - Sun, Dec 15
6:20 pm - 10:20 pmCNS-SYD
3h 00mnonstop
3:35 pm - 5:35 pmSYD-CNS
3h 00mnonstop
$156Jetstar
Find Deal
Sun, Mar 9 - Fri, Mar 21
6:20 pm - 10:20 pmCNS-SYD
3h 00mnonstop
6:00 am - 8:00 amSYD-CNS
3h 00mnonstop
$164Jetstar
Find Deal
Wed, Dec 11 - Thu, Dec 12
6:20 pm - 10:20 pmCNS-SYD
3h 00mnonstop
8:25 pm - 10:30 pmSYD-CNS
3h 05mnonstop
$173Jetstar
Find Deal
Tue, Dec 24 - Wed, Jan 15
6:40 am - 10:40 amCNS-SYD
3h 00mnonstop
11:30 am - 1:30 pmSYD-CNS
3h 00mnonstop
$184Jetstar
Find Deal
Tue, Dec 10 - Sat, Dec 14
5:30 pm - 9:25 pmCNS-SYD
2h 55mnonstop
8:25 pm - 10:30 pmSYD-CNS
3h 05mnonstop
Fri, Jan 24 - Mon, Jan 27
6:20 pm - 10:20 pmCNS-SYD
3h 00mnonstop
2:45 pm - 4:50 pmSYD-CNS
3h 05mnonstop
Sat, Jan 18 - Sat, Jan 25
5:35 pm - 9:35 pmCNS-SYD
3h 00mnonstop
12:50 pm - 2:55 pmSYD-CNS
3h 05mnonstop
$404Virgin Australia
Find Deal
Fri, Dec 20 - Wed, Dec 25
3:45 pm - 7:45 pmCNS-SYD
3h 00mnonstop
8:10 am - 10:15 amSYD-CNS
3h 05mnonstop
$593Virgin Australia
Find Deal
Tue, Jan 21 - Tue, Jan 28
5:30 pm - 9:25 pmCNS-SYD
2h 55mnonstop
9:45 am - 11:50 amSYD-CNS
3h 05mnonstop
$1,054Qantas Airways
Find Deal
Fri, Jan 24 - Fri, Jan 31

Flights from Cairns to Sydney - Travel Insights & Trends

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 flights from Cairns to Sydney clicked on KAYAK for each day over the last 12 months.
For Cairns to Sydney, Tuesday is the cheapest day to fly on average and Monday is the most expensive. Flying from Sydney back to Cairns, the best deals are generally found on Tuesday, with Thursday being the most expensive.

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 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 May, where tickets cost $180 on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are December and October, where the average cost of tickets is $249 and $242 respectively.

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

To calculate daily average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each day before departure over the last year for 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 month.
To get a below average price on the flight from Cairns to Sydney, you should book around 3 weeks before departure. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 112 days before departure.

Good to know

Low season

July

High season

October

Cheapest flight

$86
Best time to beat the crowds but there is an average 7% increase in price.
Most popular time to fly with an average 13% 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 $86 for a one-way ticket and $155 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.

  • Which airline alliances offer flights from Cairns to Sydney?

    Star Alliance, oneworld, and SkyTeam are the airline alliances operating flights between Cairns and Sydney, with oneworld being the most commonly used for this 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 $250 and an overall rating of 7.6, Virgin Australia is the most popular choice. Jetstar is also a great choice for the route, with an average price of $203 and an overall rating of 6.6.

  • 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.

See more FAQs

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 $105 or less one-way and $163 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.
See more tips

Prefer to fly non-stop from Cairns to Sydney?

Find which airlines fly direct from Cairns Airport to Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, which days they fly and book direct flights.

Nonstop departures

Cairns to Sydney Kingsford Smith

Monday

ANA, Air Canada, Air New Zealand, +12 more

ANA, Air Canada, +13 more

Tuesday

ANA, Air Canada, Air New Zealand, +12 more

ANA, Air Canada, +13 more

Wednesday

ANA, Air New Zealand, British Airways, +12 more

ANA, Air New Zealand, +13 more

Thursday

ANA, Air Canada, Air New Zealand, +12 more

ANA, Air Canada, +13 more

Friday

ANA, Air Canada, Air New Zealand, +12 more

ANA, Air Canada, +13 more

Saturday

ANA, Air New Zealand, British Airways, +12 more

ANA, Air New Zealand, +13 more

Sunday

ANA, Air Canada, Air New Zealand, +12 more

ANA, Air Canada, +13 more

See more direct flights

Nonstop returns

Sydney Kingsford Smith to Cairns

Monday

ANA, Air Canada, Air France, +16 more

ANA, Air Canada, +17 more

Tuesday

ANA, Air Canada, Air France, +16 more

ANA, Air Canada, +17 more

Wednesday

ANA, Air Canada, Air France, +16 more

ANA, Air Canada, +17 more

Thursday

ANA, Air Canada, Air France, +16 more

ANA, Air Canada, +17 more

Friday

ANA, Air Canada, Air France, +16 more

ANA, Air Canada, +17 more

Saturday

ANA, Air Canada, Air France, +16 more

ANA, Air Canada, +17 more

Sunday

ANA, Air Canada, Air France, +16 more

ANA, Air Canada, +17 more

See more direct flights
See more direct flights

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.
7.6
Virgin AustraliaOverall score based on 495 reviews
7.8Boarding
7.4Comfort
6.6Food
8.2Crew
6.6Entertainment
Airline reviews

The flight was delayed by 45 minutes, but boarding, actual flight, and crew were great. However, there was Zero free food and only water, tea, or coffee to drink. Everything else was for sale. No onboard entertainment but it was a short flight.

10.0 ExcellentAnonymous, Oct 2024SYD - BNE
Read more Virgin Australia reviews

The flight was delayed by 45 minutes, but boarding, actual flight, and crew were great. However, there was Zero free food and only water, tea, or coffee to drink. Everything else was for sale. No onboard entertainment but it was a short flight.

Boarding was smooth after a 25 min delay. Notification of delay could be more efficient and change in boarding gate was not notified on the flights board or app.

Excellent. Shelley was very attentive and caring regarding my sister who required pre approved oxygen during the flight. Shelley checked up on her regularly throughout the flight and made her feel more relaxed and comfortable.

I did not use the in flight entertainment, but the selection appeared to be decent. Take off was delayed, but otherwise the process was uneventful.

Great flight - on time, lovely staff. I’ll always have the same complaint and essentially it’s the limited food options for people who are celiac. But that’s all airlines !

The level of incompetence of this airline is truly astounding.

I'll never transit from international through Sydney with Virgin until they improve the domestic transfer system. It's ridiculous that you have to take oversize baggage to the transfer desk to get it activated then struggle onto the shuttle bus (carrying a 25kg, 2m long ski bag and carry-on - along with about 6 others in the same situation) then negotiate the terminal and queue to put it onto the oversize receival bag drop.

For a red eye flight it is pretty uncomfortable. They provide nothing in the way of pillows, etc.

2 hrs + delay! Times kept changing, Onboard menu was half depleted, Entertainment wifi was N/A Overall very frustrating flight and I never slate Virgin.

Virgin Australia passed this flight onto Alliance, so my rating and comments are based on my experience with crew, aircraft and available options. Alliance only offers drinks which consisted of tea, coffee and water, free of charge. There was no on board entertainment. The aircraft seating although narrow accommodated my 6 foot 2 body with little discomfort.

Flight was as expected - we got what we paid for which was a base fare

Hardly we had overweight and we were asked to pay $75. We were checked by a female and weight was alright

Unaware of charge for carry on until i got to gate

I got what I paid for - flight was clean, staff were friendly

I like that fare is cheap but because there's no amenities whatsoever. You get what you paid for.

There's a reason why fare is cheap, no amenities.

It is what it is - nothing more, nothing less. No entertainment onboard but one kinda knows that when buying a ticket on a no frills airline. I choose Jetstar only because of price.

Plane was delayed both on arrival to Sydney and departure. We boarded the plane while it was in the process of being refuelled, which I am certain is against CASA regulations. Comfort for anyone over 6 foot is non existent.

Entertainment wasn’t working! It didnt work on our flight from Darwin to Bali either. They were newish planes, so it was disappointing.

The flight was over an hour late due to staff shortages and due to it being the last evening flight, I got back to Sydney very late

Book cheap flights from Cairns to Sydney

Recent one-way flight deals

 
Only flying one-way? Below are some of the best one-way flight deals from Cairns to Sydney found on KAYAK in the last 72 hours.
2/20Thu
nonstopJetstar
3h 00mCNS-SYD
$86
12/21Sat
nonstopVirgin Australia
3h 00mCNS-SYD
$89
3/21Fri
nonstopJetstar
3h 00mCNS-SYD
$92
12/12Thu
nonstopVirgin Australia
3h 00mCNS-SYD
$112
12/6Fri
nonstopJetstar
3h 00mCNS-SYD
$116
11/26Tue
1 stopVirgin Australia
6h 45mCNS-SYD
$125
11/25Mon
nonstopJetstar
3h 00mCNS-SYD
$130
11/28Thu
1 stopVirgin Australia
7h 40mCNS-SYD
$135
12/26Thu
nonstopQantas Airways
2h 55mCNS-SYD
$150
11/23Sat
nonstopQantas Airways
2h 55mCNS-SYD
$171

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

Information on your arrival and departure airports