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)
Book a hotel near CNS if you're on a late Brisbane Airport to Cairns Airport flight. Check in to one of these options and skip the long transfer:
Get on the fast track to adventure by picking up a Cairns Airport rental car. Grab a set of wheels from simba car hire, Bargain Car Rentals or East Coast and explore beyond Cairns's main sights.
Lock in the best deal by booking your ride from Cairns Airport about two weeks in advance of your trip.
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.