Cheap Flights from Brisbane to Cairns

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Compare Brisbane to Cairns flight deals

Find the cheapest month or even day of the year to fly to Cairns

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Flight deals from Brisbane to Cairns

Looking for a cheap last-minute deal or the best round-trip flight from Brisbane to Cairns? Find the lowest prices on one-way and round-trip tickets right here.

Find the cheapest month to fly from Brisbane to Cairns

We’re always keeping an eye on fares, so you can find the best one in seconds. It looks like Brisbane to Cairns flights are currently cheapest in October.

Direct flights from Brisbane to Cairns

Brisbane to Cairns: Alternative routes

Compare routes from Brisbane to Cairns below. You may find an airport to fly into that's cheaper, faster, or easier than Cairns.

Brisbane to Cairns: Flight information

The things to know before you go.
Cheapest flight foundAED 400
Cheapest month to flyNovember
Average flight time2 hrs, 27 mins
Most popular airlineAir New Zealand
Average flights per week364

Finding cheap flights from Brisbane to Cairns: Frequently asked questions

The best price we found for a round-trip flight from Brisbane to Cairns is AED 400. This is an estimate based on information collected from different airlines and travel providers over the last 4 days and is subject to change and availability.
2 hours and 27 minutes is the average flight time from Brisbane to Cairns.
Air New Zealand, Qantas and Alliance Airlines fly direct from Brisbane to Cairns.
There are 364 flights per week flying from Brisbane to Cairns, as of April 2025.
The cheapest month to fly from Brisbane to Cairns is usually April 2025.
After crunching the numbers on our flight calendar, we found that it's currently cheapest to fly from Brisbane Airport to Cairns Airport on Friday, November 14, 2025.
Yes – the average flight time is 2 hours and 27 minutes.
We show every price from over 1,200 airlines and travel agents, comparing them all so you don’t have to. If you know you want to fly to Cairns but you’re not ready to book, set up a Price Alert. We’ll track prices for you, and let you know when they rise or fall.
We crunched all the numbers in our flight calendar, and it looks like the cheapest time to book a flight to Cairns is around 40 days in advance, so don’t leave your flight to the last minute.
Currently, Virgin Australia offers the cheapest flight tickets to Cairns.

Flying from Brisbane Airport (BNE) to Cairns Airport (CNS): what you need to know

  • The average time for a direct flight from Brisbane Airport to Cairns Airport is 2 hours 35 minutes.

  • Cairns's timezone is UTC+10, which is the same as Brisbane.

  • Flights from BNE to CNS start at 06:00 — the earliest with Jetstar. The last service of the day is at 21:25 with Virgin Australia Regional. In total, you can take your pick of 139 weekly Brisbane Airport to Cairns Airport flights.

  • Arriving two hours before an international flight and one hour ahead of a domestic departure are tried-and-true travel tips. Get to the airport on time to catch your BNE to CNS flight.

  • During popular months like January, it's a good idea to get to the airport earlier. Plan to arrive two hours before domestic departures and four hours ahead of international flights when you travel during a peak period in general.

  • With direct flights from Brisbane Airport to Cairns Airport available from numerous airlines, flying to Cairns (and then other parts of Australia) is easy. You can travel nonstop with:

  • Most passengers choose to travel with Jetstar on this route.

  • With 66.31% of services landing as planned, Virgin Australia Regional is the most punctual carrier operating BNE to CNS flights.

  • We make it a piece of cake to book a flight with a stopover. To see all your options for tickets from Brisbane Airport to Cairns Airport, deselect 'Direct flights only.' Then, pick a flight that has a stop long enough to visit the city of your choice. Top stopovers between BNE and CNS include:

    • Townsville Airport

    • Whitsunday Coast Airport

    • Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport

How to find the cheapest flights from Brisbane Airport (BNE) to Cairns Airport (CNS)

  • The lowest price we've found for a one-way Brisbane Airport to Cairns Airport flight is AED 200. A round-trip fare is currently AED 400. Depending on the availability and when you book, these fares may change.

  • Book nine months before you want to fly. After looking at the numbers on our calendar, this is how far you'll want to book ahead to secure cheap tickets from BNE to CNS.

  • August is the cheapest month for flights from Brisbane Airport to Cairns Airport. If you need to fly at a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will give you the lowest prices for each month.

  • Snapping up cheap flights from BNE to CNS couldn't be easier with Price Alerts. Simply create one of these automatic alerts and we'll notify you when a new deal comes up.

  • Choose your ideal arrival and departure times, airlines and number of stops with the filters. Or sort your results by 'Cheapest' to see the best deals on flights from Brisbane Airport to Cairns Airport.

Handy information about Brisbane Airport (BNE)

  • 66.16% of flights that depart Brisbane Airport make it to their destination on time.

  • Brisbane Airport is about 21 kilometers from central Brisbane. If you're catching a cab, ride-sharing or driving from the center, it'll take you 25 minutes or so to get there, depending on the traffic.

  • You can expect a trip time of about 30 minutes when using public transport.

  • Booked an early flight from Brisbane Airport to Cairns Airport? Avoid rushing to the airport (and get some extra shut-eye) by choosing one of these stays close to BNE:

Arriving at Cairns Airport (CNS)

Getting from Cairns Airport (CNS) to central Cairns

  • From Cairns Airport, Cairns is approximately 6 kilometers away. It takes around 10 minutes to reach the center by car.

  • It'll take around 1 hour 25 minutes if you're traveling on public transport.

When to fly to Cairns Airport (CNS)

  • It's time to choose your travel dates for your flight from Brisbane Airport to Cairns Airport. July is the most popular month to visit Cairns. If you want a more low-key vibe, go in February.

  • Book your flight from Brisbane Airport to Cairns Airport for January if you'd like to explore Cairns during its warmest month. Expect temperatures of between 23ºC (73ºF) and 31ºC (88ºF).

  • August has average temperatures of between 16ºC (61ºF) and 25ºC (77ºF). Look for cheap tickets from BNE to CNS sometime then if you'd rather travel in cooler conditions.

Explore more of Australia

  • Townsville is just one of the many cities in Australia waiting to be discovered once you've taken in the sights of Cairns. Around 290 kilometers away to the south, well-known attractions include The Strand Beach, Castle Hill and Big Mama Sailing- Magnetic Island & Townsville.

  • Bowen is another well-known destination in Australia and is around 434 kilometers south-east of Cairns. No journey is complete without experiencing Holbourne Island National Park, The Big Mango and Grays Bay.

Prices shown on this page are estimated lowest prices only. Found in the last 45 days.