What percentage of Cairns to Sydney flights are direct?

Across the trailing quarter, approximately 55.3% of flights from Cairns to Sydney are direct. For flights that include a stopover, the median number of stopovers is typically one. This indicates that a significant portion of travelers on this route can find non-stop options, while connecting flights usually involve a single intermediate stop.

How long is the flight from Cairns to Sydney?

The typical direct flight from Cairns to Sydney has a median duration of 2 hours and 55 minutes. For flights with one stop, the median duration extends to 5 hours and 25 minutes. The distance covered on this route is 1974 kilometers. Travelers should account for these differences in flight time when planning their journey.

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

Given that deals for Cairns to Sydney flights are historically frequent, setting a price alert is a recommended strategy. This route typically sees a consistent availability of deals across the trailing 30 days. Travelers can benefit from monitoring prices to secure a favorable fare for their journey.

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 2 days ago

405 airlines compared

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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 Cairns to Sydney

Explore current cheapest deals departing from Cairns to Sydney

2026-09-10 – 2026-09-14
CNS - Sydney
78% AI deal score
A$305
A$223
Round trip
2026-09-10 – 2026-09-15
CNS - Sydney
78% AI deal score
A$299
A$223
Round trip
2026-09-09 – 2026-09-11
CNS - Sydney
78% AI deal score
A$306
A$223
Round trip
2026-09-09 – 2026-09-15
CNS - Sydney
77% AI deal score
A$289
A$223
Round trip
2026-09-10 – 2026-09-11
CNS - Sydney
78% AI deal score
A$305
A$223
Round trip
2026-09-10 – 2026-09-12
CNS - Sydney
78% AI deal score
A$306
A$223
Round trip
2026-09-09 – 2026-09-12
CNS - Sydney
78% AI deal score
A$305
A$223
Round trip
2026-09-09 – 2026-09-14
CNS - Sydney
77% AI deal score
A$299
A$225
Round trip
2026-09-08 – 2026-09-10
CNS - Sydney
77% AI deal score
A$306
A$226
Round trip
2026-09-17 – 2026-09-18
CNS - Sydney
77% AI deal score
A$299
A$226
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, the rest connect once. Specifically, 55.3% of recent fares were for direct flights. When itineraries do include connections, travelers typically encounter 1 stopover.

Right now, if you are looking for cheap flights from Cairns to Sydney, fares are above the typical level. Prices for this route typically range from $146–$329, with a median of $180. Only 7% of recent fares were classified as a good price, indicating that deals are less common at present. New deals appear almost daily, so setting up a price alert can be beneficial.

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.

A typical journey from Cairns to Sydney takes approximately 2h 55m, including connections. This median duration reflects the overall travel time, whether you are on a direct flight or an itinerary with stopovers. Non-stop flights also have a median duration of 2h 55m, while connecting flights typically take around 5h 40m.

The distance between Cairns and Sydney is 1974 kilometers, classifying this as a medium-haul route. This distance means you can expect a flight that is longer than a short hop but not a full day of travel.

How much is a round trip from Cairns to Sydney

Regular price: A$258 - A$485

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

The regular price range for flights from Cairns to Sydney is AUD258 to AUD485. The current lowest deal is AUD225 with Jetstar, for travel from Sep 9-Sep 10.

now A$225

Low A$258

High A$485

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 June and in 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

Mon, Aug 3

⌛ Last-Minute

CNS - Sydney

Cairns (CNS) - Sydney (SYD)

Virgin Australia Regional Airlines

A$596

A$373

One-way

Tue, Sep 8

⌛ Last-Minute

CNS - Sydney

Cairns (CNS) - Sydney (SYD)

Jetstar

A$306

A$226

One-way

Tue, Sep 8

⌛ Last-Minute

CNS - Sydney

Cairns (CNS) - Sydney (SYD)

Jetstar

A$289

A$229

One-way

Wed, Sep 9

⌛ Last-Minute

CNS - Sydney

Cairns (CNS) - Sydney (SYD)

Jetstar

A$305

A$225

One-way

Wed, Sep 9

⌛ Last-Minute

CNS - Sydney

Cairns (CNS) - Sydney (SYD)

Jetstar

A$289

A$225

One-way

Wed, Sep 9

⌛ Last-Minute

CNS - Sydney

Cairns (CNS) - Sydney (SYD)

Jetstar

A$306

A$225

One-way

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

3 nights

Aug 3 - Aug 6

A$596 → A$373

37%

5 nights

Dec 15 - Dec 20

A$566 → A$345

39%

9 nights

Dec 11 - Dec 20

A$559 → A$345

38%

6 nights

Dec 14 - Dec 20

A$558 → A$345

38%

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, with a median price of $180.

📅 Best time to fly

Fly in August, October, or September for the lowest prices.

Historically, the cheapest months to fly from Cairns to Sydney are August ($126), October ($138), and September ($144).

⏱️ Flight duration

Direct flights take 2h 55m.

The median flight time for direct flights from Cairns to Sydney is 2 hours and 55 minutes.

✈️ Airlines & availability

Direct flights are available from Jetstar.

Jetstar offers direct flights on this route, with 55.3% of recent flights being direct.

🏆 Airline highlight

Jetstar offers direct flights.

Jetstar has direct flights from Cairns to Sydney, with a recent deal for $225.

🎯 Booking tip

Deals appear frequently on this route.

Deals for flights from Cairns to Sydney appear frequently, typically 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 city center (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~A$226

Sydney main airports to arrive at

Sydney (SYD)

Cheapest

Arrive at Sydney Airport for convenient access to Sydney and surrounding areas.

📍 ~9 km from city center (reachable by car, train, bus)

💸 Flights from ~A$224

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$450

Business & First Class Flight Deals to Sydney

78% AI deal score

$939

$591

Save $348

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to Sydney

Historically, the optimal booking window for flights from Cairns to Sydney is typically 7-13 days before departure. During this period, the average price observed was $158. Waiting until 0-6 days before departure generally sees prices rise significantly, with an average of $366. Across the trailing quarter, prices for bookings made 60+ days out averaged $179, while those made 28-59 days out averaged $190.

Based on data from the trailing 90 days, 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 vary, with 75% of fares historically being $329 or less. Travelers aiming for a budget-friendly option should target fares around the $146 mark.

Historically, the cheapest months to fly from Cairns to Sydney are August, October, and September. In August, the median price was $126, while October saw a median of $138, and September had a median of $144. The annual median price for this route is $180. These months typically offer more economical travel options compared to other times of the year.

Cairns to Sydney: Overview

Insights for flights from Cairns to Sydney

How much is a round trip from Cairns to Sydney

Regular price: A$258 - A$485

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

The regular price range for flights from Cairns to Sydney is AUD258 to AUD485. The current lowest deal is AUD225 with Jetstar, for travel from Sep 9-Sep 10.

now A$225

Low A$258

High A$485

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