What percentage of Cairns to Sydney flights are direct?

In the trailing 90 days, approximately 55.3% of flights from Cairns to Sydney were direct. For travelers opting for connecting flights, the median number of stopovers was typically one. This indicates that a significant portion of flights on this route offer the convenience of a direct journey.

How long is the flight from Cairns to Sydney?

The direct flight from Cairns to Sydney typically takes approximately 2 hours and 55 minutes, covering a distance of 1974 kilometers. For flights with one stop, the median duration extends to about 5 hours and 25 minutes. Travelers can expect a significantly shorter journey when flying direct compared to routes involving a layover.

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

Historically, deals for flights from Cairns to Sydney have been frequent. This suggests that setting a price alert could be beneficial for travelers looking to secure a favorable fare. Given the frequent nature of deals, an alert can help you monitor price changes and potentially find a good opportunity to book your flight.

Flights From Cairns

To Sydney

Cheap Flights from Cairns to Sydney

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

Deals from

Cairns

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

Prices updated today

462 airlines compared

80%+ AI score for best value

Fares are subject to change and may not be available for all dates. (Data last updated Sep 15, 2026.)

Today’s best flight deals from Cairns to Sydney

Explore current cheapest deals departing from Cairns to Sydney

2027-01-14 – 2027-01-17
CNS - Sydney
79% AI deal score
A$306
A$226
Round trip
2027-01-13 – 2027-01-14
CNS - Sydney
78% AI deal score
A$306
A$226
Round trip
2027-01-20 – 2027-01-24
CNS - Sydney
79% AI deal score
A$307
A$226
Round trip
2027-01-18 – 2027-01-22
CNS - Sydney
79% AI deal score
A$307
A$226
Round trip
2027-01-20 – 2027-01-22
CNS - Sydney
79% AI deal score
A$306
A$226
Round trip
2026-09-25 – 2026-10-24
CNS - Sydney
70% AI deal score
A$259
A$226
Round trip
2026-09-24 – 2026-10-24
CNS - Sydney
70% AI deal score
A$261
A$226
Round trip
2027-01-16 – 2027-01-23
CNS - Sydney
78% AI deal score
A$302
A$227
Round trip
2027-01-16 – 2027-01-22
CNS - Sydney
78% AI deal score
A$302
A$227
Round trip
2027-01-16 – 2027-01-25
CNS - Sydney
78% AI deal score
A$295
A$227
Round trip

Cairns to Sydney: Overview

Insights for flights from Cairns to Sydney

For flights from Cairns to Sydney, a meaningful share are non-stop, while the rest connect once. Specifically, 55.3% of recent itineraries are direct. When a connection is involved, the typical number of stopovers is 1. New deals for this route appear almost daily, offering frequent opportunities to find suitable fares.

A typical journey from Cairns to Sydney takes approximately 2h 55m, including connections. This duration represents the median travel time across all observed itineraries, providing a realistic expectation for the overall trip.

The distance between Cairns and Sydney is 1974 km, classifying this as a medium-haul route. This distance is well-served by a variety of flight options, contributing to the mixed availability of direct and connecting flights.

When looking for cheap flights from Cairns to Sydney, the fares typically range from $146–$329, with a median price of $180. Right now, current fares are above the typical level. Only 7% of recent fares were classified as a good price, indicating that finding deals might require some flexibility.

To find the cheapest time to fly from Cairns to Sydney, consider traveling in August, when the median fare is $126. Other affordable months include October, with a median fare of $138, and September, where the median fare is $144. These months offer the lowest median prices for this route.

How much is a round trip from Cairns to Sydney

Regular price: A$270 - A$581

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

The regular price range for this route is typically between AUD270 and AUD581. The current lowest deal is AUD226, offered by Jetstar for travel from Jan 14-Jan 17.

now A$226

Low A$270

High A$581

The cheapest time to fly from Cairns to Sydney

The cheapest month to fly from Cairns to Sydney is April, with a median price of $148. The most expensive month is August, with a median price of $308. Prices are generally lower from January to December.

April

Cheapest

Flights from A$148

August

Most Expensive

Flights from A$308

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Direct flights from Cairns to Sydney

Jetstar

Last-minute flights going from Cairns to Sydney

Tue, Sep 15

⌛ Last-Minute

CNS - Sydney

Cairns (CNS) - Sydney (SYD)

Virgin Australia Regional Airlines

A$647

A$402

One-way

Tue, Sep 15

⌛ Last-Minute

CNS - Sydney

Cairns (CNS) - Sydney (SYD)

Virgin Australia Regional Airlines

A$735

A$434

One-way

Tue, Sep 15

⌛ Last-Minute

CNS - Sydney

Cairns (CNS) - Sydney (SYD)

Virgin Australia Regional Airlines

A$741

A$434

One-way

Tue, Sep 15

⌛ Last-Minute

CNS - Sydney

Cairns (CNS) - Sydney (SYD)

Virgin Australia Regional Airlines

A$732

A$434

One-way

Thu, Sep 17

⌛ Last-Minute

CNS - Sydney

Cairns (CNS) - Sydney (SYD)

Jetstar

A$470

A$291

One-way

Thu, Sep 17

⌛ Last-Minute

CNS - Sydney

Cairns (CNS) - Sydney (SYD)

Jetstar

A$466

A$310

One-way

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

7 nights

Nov 3 - Nov 10

A$711 → A$365

49%

1 night

Sep 17 - Sep 18

A$728 → A$404

44%

3 nights

Sep 18 - Sep 21

A$719 → A$401

44%

4 nights

Sep 18 - Sep 22

A$714 → A$401

44%

Popular Airports to fly from Cairns to Sydney

Cairns - Sydney route insights

💸 Price insights

Recent fares are above the typical level.

Recent fares from Cairns to Sydney are above the typical level of $180.

📅 Best time to fly

August is historically cheapest.

Historically, August is the cheapest month to fly from Cairns to Sydney, with a median price of $126.

⏱️ Flight duration

Direct flights average 2h 55m.

Direct flights from Cairns to Sydney typically take 2h 55m, while connecting flights average 5h 40m.

✈️ Airlines & availability

Direct flights are common.

About 55.3% of recent flights from Cairns to Sydney are direct.

🏆 Airline highlight

Jetstar offers direct flights.

Jetstar is an airline that offers direct flights on the Cairns to Sydney route.

🎯 Booking tip

Deals are frequent.

Deals for flights from Cairns to Sydney are frequent, appearing often within a 30-day window.

Cairns main airports to depart from

Cairns (CNS)

Cheapest

Cairns Airport is a convenient departure point for flights to Sydney.

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

💸 Flights from ~A$225

Sydney main airports to arrive at

Sydney (SYD)

Cheapest

Sydney Airport is a convenient arrival option for flights from Cairns to Sydney.

📍 ~9 km from Sydney city center (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~A$223

Airports nearby Sydney used as alternative

Canberra (CBR)

Canberra Airport is a major domestic and international-capable airport, offering a full range of cabin classes.

📍 ~240 km from Sydney (approximately 3 hours drive from Sydney city center)

💸 Flights from ~A$494

Business & First Class Flight Deals to Sydney

$690

Save $205

Virgin Australia Regional Airlines

Business Class

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to Sydney

Historically, the optimal time to purchase tickets for flights from Cairns to Sydney is typically 7-13 days before departure. During this period, the average price observed was $158. Prices tend to be higher for very last-minute bookings, with flights purchased 0-6 days out averaging around $366. Conversely, booking more than 60 days in advance showed an average price of $179, which is still higher than the 7-13 day window.

Across the trailing quarter, a good price for a flight from Cairns to Sydney is considered to be $146 or less. The median price for this route was $180. Prices can go higher, with 75% of observed fares being $329 or less. This threshold of $146 represents a competitive fare based on historical data.

Historically, the cheapest months to fly from Cairns to Sydney include August, with a median price of $126, and October, with a median price of $138. September also offered competitive fares, with a median price of $144. The annual median price for this route was $180, indicating that these months typically offer savings compared to the yearly average.

Cairns to Sydney: Overview

Insights for flights from Cairns to Sydney

How much is a round trip from Cairns to Sydney

Regular price: A$270 - A$581

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

The regular price range for this route is typically between AUD270 and AUD581. The current lowest deal is AUD226, offered by Jetstar for travel from Jan 14-Jan 17.

now A$226

Low A$270

High A$581

The cheapest time to fly from Cairns to Sydney

April

Cheapest

Flights from A$148

August

Most Expensive

Flights from A$308

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec