To Cairns

Cheap Flights from Brisbane to Cairns

Browse current best options from Brisbane. Become a member to unlock all deals and get alerts when new deals appear.

Deals from

Brisbane

RatePunk searches hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to Cairns

Prices updated 24 days ago

486,190 searches this week

171 airlines compared

80%+ AI score for best value

Fares are subject to change and may not be available for all dates. (Data last updated May 29, 2026.)

Today’s best flight deals from Brisbane to Cairns

Explore current cheapest deals departing from Brisbane to Cairns

Round trip

Sort by: Cheapest

July 22 - July 29

Cheapest

Best

BNE - Cairns

$168

$115

Round trip

July 25 - July 26

Cheapest

Best

BNE - Cairns

$173

$115

Round trip

July 23 - July 28

BNE - Cairns

$172

$121

Round trip

July 20 - July 25

BNE - Cairns

$172

$121

Round trip

July 23 - July 30

BNE - Cairns

$168

$123

Round trip

July 15 - July 28

Earliest

BNE - Cairns

$159

$126

Round trip

July 22 - July 28

BNE - Cairns

$168

$126

Round trip

July 30 - August 6

BNE - Cairns

$169

$126

Round trip

July 30 - August 8

BNE - Cairns

$164

$126

Round trip

August 1 - August 8

Best

BNE - Cairns

$210

$126

Round trip

Unlock all 500+ flight deals to Cairns and get alerts when great deals appear

Route Intelligence — 486,190 Searches this Week

Insights for flights from Brisbane to Cairns

Right now, 9% of recent fares for cheap flights from Brisbane to Cairns are considered a good price. Over the past 90 days, fares on this route typically range from $123–$564, with a median of $287. Currently, prices are below the typical level, suggesting a favorable time to consider booking.

A typical journey from Brisbane to Cairns takes about 4h 45m, including connections. This duration accounts for both direct flights and itineraries with stopovers, reflecting the overall travel time you can expect on this route.

The route from Brisbane to Cairns covers a distance of 1392 kilometers, classifying it as a short-haul flight. This distance means you can expect a relatively quick journey between the two cities.

When is the cheapest time to fly from Brisbane to Cairns? The data indicates that September is typically the most affordable month, with a median fare of $78. Following closely are November and January, both showing median fares of $90. These months present the best opportunities for finding lower prices.

For direct flights from Brisbane to Cairns, a meaningful share are non-stop, with 64.5% of recent fares being direct. The remaining itineraries typically include 1 stopover. New deals for this route appear almost daily, making it beneficial to monitor prices regularly.

How much is a round trip from Brisbane to Cairns

Regular price: $141 - $295

Prices for flights from Brisbane to Cairns are currently below the regular range.

Regular prices for flights from Brisbane to Cairns typically range from $141 to $295. The current lowest deal is $115 with Jetstar, for travel from July 22 to July 29.

now $115

Low $141

High $295

The cheapest time to fly from Brisbane to Cairns

Flights from Brisbane to Cairns are generally lower priced from January to November. The cheapest month to fly is September, with a median price of $78. The most expensive month is June, with a median price of $488.

September

Cheapest

Flights from $78

June

Most Expensive

Flights from $488

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Direct flights from Brisbane to Cairns

Jetstar

Last-minute flights going from Brisbane to Cairns

Tue, Jun 23

⌛ Last-Minute

BNE - Cairns

Brisbane (BNE) - Cairns (CNS)

$421

$273

One-way

Mon, Jul 13

⌛ Last-Minute

BNE - Cairns

Brisbane (BNE) - Cairns (CNS)

Jetstar

$156

$126

One-way

Mon, Jul 13

⌛ Last-Minute

BNE - Cairns

Brisbane (BNE) - Cairns (CNS)

Jetstar

$157

$133

One-way

Mon, Jul 13

⌛ Last-Minute

BNE - Cairns

Brisbane (BNE) - Cairns (CNS)

Jetstar

$170

$133

One-way

Wed, Jul 15

⌛ Last-Minute

BNE - Cairns

Brisbane (BNE) - Cairns (CNS)

$159

$126

One-way

Wed, Jul 15

⌛ Last-Minute

BNE - Cairns

Brisbane (BNE) - Cairns (CNS)

Jetstar

$156

$127

One-way

Biggest price drops on these dates for flights from Brisbane to Cairns

3 nights

Aug 13 - Aug 16

$391 → $140

64%

4 nights

Sep 13 - Sep 17

$383 → $147

62%

7 nights

Dec 27 - Jan 3

$431 → $247

43%

3 nights

Jun 23 - Jun 26

$421 → $273

35%

Popular Airports to fly from Brisbane to Cairns

Brisbane - Cairns route insights

💸 Price insights

Recent fares are below the typical level

Recent roundtrip prices from Brisbane to Cairns are below the typical level at $115.

📅 Best time to fly

Fly in September for the best prices

Historically, September has the lowest median price at $78 for flights from Brisbane to Cairns.

⏱️ Flight duration

Direct flights take 4h 45m

The median flight duration for this route is 4 hours and 45 minutes.

✈️ Airlines & availability

Frequent deals are available

This route typically sees frequent deals, with over 1 deal per day in the last 30 days.

🏆 Airline highlight

Jetstar offers direct flights

Jetstar is an airline that offers direct flights from Brisbane to Cairns.

🎯 Booking tip

Good prices are uncommon for this route

Historically, only 9% of deals for this route were considered good prices.

Brisbane main airports to depart from

Brisbane (BNE)

Cheapest

Brisbane Airport is a primary option for flights from Brisbane to Cairns.

📍 ~15 km from city center (reachable by car or train)

💸 Flights from ~$115

Brisbane Archerfield Airport (ACF)

Brisbane Archerfield Airport offers an alternative for flights from Brisbane to Cairns.

📍 ~15 km from city center (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~$1283

Cairns main airports to arrive at

Cairns (CNS)

Cheapest

Cairns Airport is a convenient arrival point for reaching Cairns and exploring the surrounding region.

📍 ~5 km from city center (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~$115

Airports nearby Cairns used as alternative

Townsville (TSV)

Townsville is a viable alternative for Cairns, offering a balance of proximity and flight frequency.

📍 ~350 km from Cairns (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~$146

Whitsunday Coast (PPP)

Cheapest

Whitsunday Coast is a major gateway for the Whitsunday region with reliable jet services.

📍 ~560 km from Cairns (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~$100

Mackay (MKY)

Mackay is an established regional hub with multiple daily flights and premium cabin options.

📍 ~750 km from Cairns (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~$115

Great Barrier Reef (HTI)

Great Barrier Reef is an alternative for travelers already planning to visit the reef region.

📍 ~600 km from Cairns (requires ferry transfer from mainland)

💸 Flights from ~$157

Mount Isa (ISA)

Mount Isa is a major inland hub, practical if your final destination is in the outback.

📍 ~900 km from Cairns (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~$351

Business & First Class Flight Deals to Cairns

46% AI deal score

$674

From BNE

Elite

Dec 03

Cairns, Australia

46% AI deal score

$674

From BNE

Elite

Dec 03

Cairns, Australia

46% AI deal score

$674

From BNE

Elite

Nov 19

Cairns, Australia

46% AI deal score

$674

From BNE

Elite

Nov 19

Cairns, Australia

46% AI deal score

$674

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to Cairns

Historically, the best time to purchase tickets for flights from Brisbane to Cairns is 60+ days before departure. During this period, the average price for a ticket is typically around $187. Prices tend to increase significantly closer to the departure date, with tickets purchased 0-6 days out averaging $497. For the trailing 90 days, booking well in advance generally offers the most favorable rates.

Across the trailing quarter, a good price for a flight from Brisbane to Cairns is considered to be $123 or less. The median price for this route over the same period was $287. Prices can vary, with 75% of tickets costing $564 or less. Keeping these benchmarks in mind can help you identify a favorable deal.

Historically, September, November, and January have been the cheapest months to fly from Brisbane to Cairns. In September, the median price was $78, while in November and January, the median price was $90. The annual median price for this route is typically $287. Planning your trip during these months could lead to savings.

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