What percentage of Mackay to Cairns flights are direct?

In the trailing 90 days, there were no direct flights observed from Mackay to Cairns, meaning 0% of flights were direct. Travelers on this route typically have at least one stopover. When connecting flights are necessary, the median number of stopovers is one. This indicates that all journeys on this route historically involve at least one intermediate stop.

How many hours is the flight from Mackay to Cairns?

For flights from Mackay to Cairns, the median flight time with one stop is approximately 4 hours and 50 minutes. While direct flights are not common, when they do occur, the median flight time is 4 hours and 45 minutes. The air distance between Mackay and Cairns is 598 kilometers. Travelers should anticipate a journey of around 5 hours when planning their trip.

How often do Mackay to Cairns flight prices drop?

Historically, flight prices for the Mackay to Cairns route tend to drop frequently. On average, prices for this route experience a drop approximately 0.5 times per day. This indicates that price fluctuations are common, and travelers may find opportunities for deals regularly. Over a 30-day period, this translates to numerous price adjustments.

Flights From Mackay

To Cairns

Cheap Flights from Mackay to Cairns

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Fares are subject to change and may not be available for all dates. (Data last updated Jul 12, 2026.)

Today’s best flight deals from Mackay to Cairns

Explore current cheapest deals departing from Mackay to Cairns

Round trip

Sort by: Cheapest

September 7 - October 7

Cheapest

MKY - Cairns

$328

$282

Round trip

September 7 - September 16

MKY - Cairns

$357

$283

Round trip

August 17 - September 16

MKY - Cairns

$288

$283

Round trip

August 31 - September 16

MKY - Cairns

$296

$283

Round trip

August 17 - September 15

MKY - Cairns

$288

$291

Round trip

September 7 - September 10

Best

MKY - Cairns

$377

$291

Round trip

July 27 - July 31

MKY - Cairns

$348

$318

Round trip

July 14 - July 22

Earliest

MKY - Cairns

$372

$336

Round trip

September 3 - September 25

MKY - Cairns

$322

$338

Round trip

September 1 - September 25

MKY - Cairns

$325

$338

Round trip

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Mackay to Cairns: Overview

Insights for flights from Mackay to Cairns

For those seeking cheap flights from Mackay to Cairns, October stands out as the most affordable month, with a median fare of just $135. September also offers competitive pricing, with a median fare of $143, followed by November at $181. Planning your trip during these months can significantly reduce travel costs.

Fares for flights from Mackay to Cairns typically range from $180–$312, with a median price of $216. Right now, current fares are significantly above the typical level, indicating a less opportune time for booking. Despite this, about 36% of recent fares were still classified as a good price, suggesting that deals can still be found with diligent searching. New deals appear almost daily, so setting up a price alert could be beneficial.

When considering the journey from Mackay to Cairns, most itineraries connect at least once, as 0% of recent fares were for direct flights. For those itineraries that do connect, the typical number of stopovers is 1. This means you should generally expect at least one stop on your journey.

A typical journey from Mackay to Cairns takes approximately 4h 50m, including connections. This duration accounts for the common need for at least one stopover on this route. The overall distance covered on this route is 598 kilometers, classifying it as a short-haul flight.

How much is a round trip from Mackay to Cairns

Regular price: $239 - $611

Prices for flights from Mackay to Cairns are currently within the regular range.

The regular price range for flights from Mackay to Cairns is USD 239 to USD 611. The current lowest deal is USD 299 with Jetstar, for travel from Aug 17-Sep 10.

now $299

Low $239

High $611

The cheapest time to fly from Mackay to Cairns

The cheapest month to fly from MKY to CNS is October, with a median price of $135. The most expensive month is August, with a median price of $307. Prices are generally lower from March to November.

October

Cheapest

Flights from $135

August

Most Expensive

Flights from $307

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Direct flights from Mackay to Cairns

QantasLink

Last-minute flights going from Mackay to Cairns

Sun, Jul 12

⌛ Last-Minute

MKY - Cairns

Mackay (MKY) - Cairns (CNS)

QantasLink

$398

$576

One-way

Tue, Jul 14

⌛ Last-Minute

MKY - Cairns

Mackay (MKY) - Cairns (CNS)

Virgin Australia Regional Airlines

$338

$335

One-way

Tue, Jul 14

⌛ Last-Minute

MKY - Cairns

Mackay (MKY) - Cairns (CNS)

Virgin Australia Regional Airlines

$336

$335

One-way

Tue, Jul 14

⌛ Last-Minute

MKY - Cairns

Mackay (MKY) - Cairns (CNS)

QantasLink

$383

$576

One-way

Wed, Jul 15

⌛ Last-Minute

MKY - Cairns

Mackay (MKY) - Cairns (CNS)

QantasLink

$383

$578

One-way

Wed, Jul 15

⌛ Last-Minute

MKY - Cairns

Mackay (MKY) - Cairns (CNS)

QantasLink

$383

$580

One-way

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

3 nights

Jul 27 - Jul 30

$330 → $307

4 nights

Aug 6 - Aug 10

$356 → $335

6 nights

Sep 28 - Oct 4

$370 → $350

3 nights

Jul 16 - Jul 19

$376 → $360

Popular Airports to fly from Mackay to Cairns

Mackay - Cairns route insights

💸 Price insights

Recent fares are above the typical level

Recent fares from Mackay to Cairns are above the typical level, with 36% of deals historically considered "good."

📅 Best time to fly

October is historically the cheapest month to fly

Historically, October is the cheapest month to fly from Mackay to Cairns, with a median price of $135.

⏱️ Flight duration

Connecting flights average 4h 50m

Flights from Mackay to Cairns typically involve connecting, with a median flight time of 4h 50m.

✈️ Airlines & availability

Connecting flights are dominant on this route

Connecting flights are dominant on this route, with 0 direct flights historically available.

🏆 Airline highlight

Jetstar offers a recent deal for $299

Jetstar recently offered a deal for $299 from Mackay to Cairns, departing August 17.

🎯 Booking tip

Deals appear frequently, about 0.5 times per day

Deals from Mackay to Cairns appear frequently, about 0.5 times per day over the last 30 days.

Mackay main airports to depart from

Mackay (MKY)

Cheapest

Mackay Airport is a convenient departure point for flights to Cairns, offering a direct travel option.

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

💸 Flights from ~$267

Cairns main airports to arrive at

Cairns (CNS)

Cheapest

Cairns Airport is a convenient arrival point for flights from Mackay to Cairns.

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

💸 Flights from ~$267

Airports nearby Cairns used as alternative

Townsville (TSV)

Cheapest

Townsville Airport offers a balance of proximity and flight frequency as an alternative arrival airport.

📍 ~350 km from Cairns (reachable by car or rail).

💸 Flights from ~$193

Whitsunday Coast (PPP)

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

📍 ~700 km from Cairns (requires a long drive).

💸 Flights from ~$278

Great Barrier Reef (HTI)

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

📍 ~750 km from Cairns (requires ferry transfer from mainland).

💸 Flights from ~$330

Mount Isa (ISA)

Mount Isa Airport serves as a primary connection point for Western Queensland with scheduled commercial services.

📍 ~1000 km from Cairns (extremely remote with limited road access efficiency).

💸 Flights from ~$468

Business & First Class Flight Deals to Cairns

47% AI deal score

$1,360

$884

Save $476

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to Cairns

Historically, the lowest prices for flights from Mackay to Cairns are typically found when booking between 28 and 59 days in advance. During this period, the average price was $242. Booking 14-27 days out also offered competitive pricing, with an average of $243. Prices tend to be slightly higher for last-minute bookings, averaging $246 for flights booked 0-6 days prior to departure.

Across the trailing quarter, a good price for a flight from Mackay to Cairns is considered to be $180 or less. The median price for this route was $216. Prices can go up significantly, with 75% of deals observed at $312 or less. This threshold of $180 represents the lower end of prices typically seen for this route.

Historically, the cheapest months to fly from Mackay to Cairns are October and September. In October, the median price was $135, while September saw a median price of $143. November also offered relatively lower prices, with a median of $181. The annual median price for this route is $216, indicating that these months offer significant savings.

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