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 return flight from Brisbane to Cairns? Find the lowest prices on one-way and return 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 foundج.م.‏ 2,404
Cheapest month to flyNovember
Average flight time2 hrs, 25 mins
Most popular airlineAir New Zealand
Average flights per week496

Finding cheap flights from Brisbane to Cairns: Frequently asked questions

The best price we found for a return flight from Brisbane to Cairns is ج.م.‏ 4,808. 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 25 minutes is the average flight time from Brisbane to Cairns.
Air New Zealand, Qantas and Alliance Airlines fly direct from Brisbane to Cairns.
As of March 2025, there are 361 flights per week flying from Brisbane to Cairns.
The cheapest month to fly from Brisbane to Cairns is usually March 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 Monday, 19 January 2026.
Yes – the average flight time is 2 hours and 25 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, Jetstar offers the cheapest flight tickets to Cairns.

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

  • Expect to be in the skies for around 2 hours 33 minutes. That's the average time for a direct flight from Brisbane Airport to Cairns Airport. Cairns and Brisbane are in the same timezone (UTC+10).

  • You can choose from 139 weekly flights from Brisbane Airport to Cairns Airport. The 06:00 departure with Jetstar is the earliest flight available from BNE to CNS. Rex Regional Express operates the latest service of the day at 21:40 if early starts aren't your thing.

  • You'll likely experience bigger queues during popular months such as July and other peak seasons. Arriving up to fours hours ahead of international flights and two hours for domestic departures will help ensure a smooth travel experience.

  • A variety of airlines offer direct flights from Brisbane Airport to Cairns Airport, so getting to Cairns (and then discovering more of Australia!) is easy. The most popular carriers travelling between BNE and CNS include:

  • To break up your flight from Brisbane Airport to Cairns Airport, add a stopover to your trip. Simply uncheck 'Direct flights only' and find a city that interests you. The top stopovers on the BNE - CNS route are:

    • Townsville Airport

    • Whitsunday Coast Airport

    • Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport

  • Once you've booked cheap ticket from BNE to CNS, get your travel documents in order. A passport or visa isn't necessary since you're travelling within Australia. As long as you have another identity document, like a driver's license or an ID card, you're all set.

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

  • ج.م.‏ 2,404 is currently the best price for a one-way ticket from Brisbane Airport to Cairns Airport. A return flight starts from ج.م.‏ 4,808. These fares may change based on availability.

  • To get your hands on cheap flight tickets from BNE to CNS, book as early as possible. Airlines usually offer lower prices when flights are first released.

  • Plan your trip for August. That's the cheapest month for flight tickets from Brisbane Airport to Cairns Airport. If your travel dates are flexible, use the 'Whole month' tool to find the lowest price across each month.

  • Create a Price Alert for cheap flight tickets from BNE to CNS. There's no need to check back in every day to find out if airfares have fallen. We'll update you when there's a change in price.

  • Take advantage of filters to find the perfect journey for you. To see the 'Fastest,' 'Best' or 'Cheapest' flights from Brisbane Airport to Cairns Airport, use the 'Sort by' function. You can also filter results by airline, departure and arrival times, and number of stops.

Handy information about Brisbane Airport (BNE)

  • Brisbane Airport is about 21 kilometres from central Brisbane. If you're driving, catching a cab or ride-sharing from the centre, it'll take 23 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic. If you're planning to take public transport, expect the travel time to be approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes.

  • Have an early flight from Brisbane Airport to Cairns Airport? Avoid the hassle of rushing to the airport (and sneak in some extra snooze time) by picking one of these stays close to BNE:

Arriving at Cairns Airport (CNS)

Getting from Cairns Airport (CNS) to central Cairns

  • Cairns Airport is approximately 6 kilometres from the centre of Cairns. With your own car rental or if you're catching a cab, the drive is about 10 minutes.

  • Travelling by public transport takes roughly 1 hour and 26 minutes.

When to fly to Cairns Airport (CNS)

  • It's time to pick your dates for your flight from Brisbane Airport to Cairns Airport. July is the most popular month to visit Cairns. If you like a more peaceful 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. You can expect temperatures of between 23 ºC and 31 ºC.

  • If you like travelling in cooler conditions, search for a cheap ticket from BNE to CNS in August. Temperatures average between 16 ºC and 25 ºC then.

More about Cairns

  • When it comes to looking for somewhere to lay your head, you'll find the best places to stay in Cairns right here. Check out these hotels once you've booked your flight from BNE to CNS:

  • Every great journey has to include a little sightseeing. Kuranda Scenic Railway Freshwater Station, Cairns Esplanade Western High Water Pier and Cairns Botanic Gardens are among the things you can't miss in Cairns.

Complete your Cairns trip with hotels and a car rental

  • Comparing flights is not the only thing we do. Once you've booked your cheap ticket to Cairns Airport, check out our great car rental deals that'll give you the flexibility to travel around at your own pace. Next, have a look at our exclusive rates for hotels to find the ideal Cairns stay.

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