What percentage of Brisbane to Cairns flights are direct?

Across the trailing quarter, approximately 58.7% of flights from Brisbane to Cairns were direct. For travelers who opted for connecting flights, the median number of stopovers was 1. This indicates that a majority of available options for this route historically involved direct travel.

What's the flight time from Brisbane to Cairns?

The median direct flight time from Brisbane to Cairns is 2 hours and 30 minutes, covering a distance of 1392 kilometers. For flights with one stop, the median travel time increases significantly to 10 hours and 0 minutes. Travelers should consider these durations when planning their journey, as direct flights offer a considerably shorter travel experience.

Should I set a price alert for Brisbane to Cairns flights?

Historically, deals for flights from Brisbane to Cairns have been classified as frequent. This suggests that price fluctuations and opportunities for savings are common for this route. Setting a price alert could be beneficial to capture these frequent deals as they become available, based on trends observed in the trailing 30 days.

Flights From Brisbane

To Cairns

Cheap Flights from Brisbane to Cairns

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Deals from

Brisbane

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

Prices updated 2 days ago

405 airlines compared

80%+ AI score for best value

Fares are subject to change and may not be available for all dates. (Data last updated Jul 26, 2026.)

Today’s best flight deals from Brisbane to Cairns

Explore current cheapest deals departing from Brisbane to Cairns

2026-09-13 – 2026-09-15
BNE - Cairns
78% AI deal score
A$306
A$179
Round trip
2026-09-05 – 2026-09-08
BNE - Cairns
77% AI deal score
A$305
A$179
Round trip
2026-09-08 – 2026-09-15
BNE - Cairns
76% AI deal score
A$290
A$179
Round trip
2026-08-29 – 2026-09-09
BNE - Cairns
75% AI deal score
A$273
A$179
Round trip
2026-09-05 – 2026-09-09
BNE - Cairns
78% AI deal score
A$305
A$179
Round trip
2026-09-08 – 2026-09-09
BNE - Cairns
78% AI deal score
A$306
A$179
Round trip
2026-09-07 – 2026-09-09
BNE - Cairns
78% AI deal score
A$306
A$179
Round trip
2026-09-01 – 2026-09-09
BNE - Cairns
76% AI deal score
A$275
A$179
Round trip
2026-08-25 – 2026-09-15
BNE - Cairns
75% AI deal score
A$264
A$179
Round trip
2026-08-25 – 2026-09-09
BNE - Cairns
75% AI deal score
A$271
A$179
Round trip

Brisbane to Cairns: Overview

Insights for flights from Brisbane to Cairns

Right now, 22% of recent fares for flights from Brisbane to Cairns are considered a good price. Fares typically range from $153 to $611, with a median of $362. Current fares are near the typical level, and new deals appear almost daily, suggesting frequent opportunities for finding cheap flights from Brisbane to Cairns.

When considering the cheapest time to fly from Brisbane to Cairns, you'll find that September stands out with a median fare of $78. Other affordable months include November and January, both showing median fares of $90. These months offer significantly lower prices compared to the overall median, making them ideal for budget-conscious travelers.

A typical journey from Brisbane to Cairns takes about 2h 30m, including connections. Given that a meaningful share of itineraries are non-stop and the rest connect once, this median duration reflects a mix of direct and connecting options. Non-stop flights also have a median duration of 2h 30m, while connecting flights typically take around 11h 25m.

The route from Brisbane to Cairns covers a distance of 1,392 kilometers. This classifies the journey as a short-haul flight. While a meaningful share of recent fares are non-stop, the rest typically involve one stopover, offering flexibility in travel plans for this short-haul route.

How much is a round trip from Brisbane to Cairns

Regular price: A$212 - A$458

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

The regular price range for flights from Brisbane to Cairns is typically between AUD 212 and AUD 458. The current lowest deal is AUD 176 with Jetstar, for travel from Aug 19-Sep 9.

now A$176

Low A$212

High A$458

The cheapest time to fly from Brisbane to Cairns

The cheapest month to fly from Brisbane to Cairns is January, with a median price of $90. The most expensive month is June, with a median price of $520. Prices are generally lower from January to December.

January

Cheapest

Flights from A$90

June

Most Expensive

Flights from A$520

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

Fri, Aug 7

⌛ Last-Minute

BNE - Cairns

Brisbane (BNE) - Cairns (CNS)

A$694

A$352

One-way

Tue, Aug 18

⌛ Last-Minute

BNE - Cairns

Brisbane (BNE) - Cairns (CNS)

Jetstar

A$267

A$176

One-way

Tue, Aug 18

⌛ Last-Minute

BNE - Cairns

Brisbane (BNE) - Cairns (CNS)

Jetstar

A$265

A$179

One-way

Tue, Aug 18

⌛ Last-Minute

BNE - Cairns

Brisbane (BNE) - Cairns (CNS)

Jetstar

A$267

A$179

One-way

Wed, Aug 19

⌛ Last-Minute

BNE - Cairns

Brisbane (BNE) - Cairns (CNS)

Jetstar

A$267

A$176

One-way

Wed, Aug 19

⌛ Last-Minute

BNE - Cairns

Brisbane (BNE) - Cairns (CNS)

Jetstar

A$267

A$179

One-way

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

4 nights

Aug 7 - Aug 11

A$694 → A$352

49%

5 nights

Jan 26 - Jan 31

A$390 → A$190

51%

5 nights

Jan 23 - Jan 28

A$390 → A$190

51%

5 nights

Jan 24 - Jan 29

A$389 → A$190

51%

Popular Airports to fly from Brisbane to Cairns

Brisbane - Cairns route insights

💸 Price insights

Recent fares near the typical level

Recent fares from Brisbane to Cairns are near the typical level of $362.

📅 Best time to fly

January is historically cheapest

Historically, January is the cheapest month to fly, with a median price of $90.

⏱️ Flight duration

2h 30m is the typical direct flight time

A direct flight from Brisbane to Cairns typically takes 2h 30m.

✈️ Airlines & availability

Direct flights are frequent

Approximately 58.7% of recent flights for this route are direct.

🏆 Airline highlight

Jetstar offers direct flights

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

🎯 Booking tip

Deals are frequent

Deals for flights from Brisbane to Cairns are frequent, appearing within 30 days.

Brisbane main airports to depart from

Brisbane (BNE)

Cheapest

Brisbane Airport (BNE) is a primary gateway for flights from Brisbane to Cairns.

📍 ~13 km from city center (reachable by car or train).

💸 Flights from ~A$177

Brisbane Archerfield Airport (ACF)

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

📍 ~11 km from city center (reachable by car).

💸 Flights from ~A$1,912

Cairns main airports to arrive at

Cairns (CNS)

Cheapest

Cairns Airport is a key arrival point for flights from Brisbane, providing direct access to Cairns.

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

💸 Flights from ~A$177

Airports nearby Cairns used as alternative

Townsville (TSV)

Townsville Airport is a useful alternative with frequent jet services to major Australian hubs.

📍 ~350 km from Cairns (approximately 4-5 hours drive)

💸 Flights from ~A$204

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to Cairns

Historically, the optimal time to purchase flights from Brisbane to Cairns is 60+ days before departure. During this period, the average price for tickets was around $187. In contrast, purchasing 0-6 days before departure typically saw average prices rise to $497. Even purchasing 28-59 days out resulted in a higher average price of $227, indicating that earlier booking generally leads to better value for this route.

Based on historical data across the trailing quarter, a good deal for a flight from Brisbane to Cairns is considered to be $153 or less. The median price for this route was $362. Prices typically ranged up to $611 for the higher end of the market, so finding a ticket at or below $153 represents significant savings.

Historically, the cheapest months to fly from Brisbane to Cairns are September, November, and January, all with a median price of $90. The annual median price for this route is $362, making these months significantly more affordable. While November appears twice, it represents both a cheapest and most expensive month depending on specific travel dates within the month, with a median of $90.

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Flights to Cairns from other cities

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Brisbane to Cairns: Overview

Insights for flights from Brisbane to Cairns

How much is a round trip from Brisbane to Cairns

Regular price: A$212 - A$458

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

The regular price range for flights from Brisbane to Cairns is typically between AUD 212 and AUD 458. The current lowest deal is AUD 176 with Jetstar, for travel from Aug 19-Sep 9.

now A$176

Low A$212

High A$458

The cheapest time to fly from Brisbane to Cairns

January

Cheapest

Flights from A$90

June

Most Expensive

Flights from A$520

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec