Are there direct flights from Cairns to Townsville?

Yes, direct flights are available from Cairns to Townsville. Historically, approximately 37.7% of all flights on this route are direct. For flights that include stopovers, travelers typically experience one stop. This indicates that while direct options exist, a significant portion of flights will involve at least one connection.

How long is the flight from Cairns to Townsville?

The typical direct flight from Cairns to Townsville has a median duration of 55 minutes, or 0h 55m. For flights with one stop, the median duration is considerably longer, at 755 minutes, or 12h 35m. The distance between the two cities is approximately 285 kilometers. Travelers should account for the significant difference in travel time between direct and connecting flights.

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

Based on historical trends, deals for flights from Cairns to Townsville are classified as frequent. This suggests that price fluctuations and opportunities for savings occur regularly. Setting a price alert can be a beneficial strategy to monitor these frequent changes. This allows travelers to be notified when prices drop to a desirable level.

Flights From Cairns

To Townsville

Cheap Flights from Cairns to Townsville

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 Townsville

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 Cairns to Townsville

Explore current cheapest deals departing from Cairns to Townsville

2027-01-06 – 2027-01-16
CNS - Townsville
71% AI deal score
A$330
A$260
Round trip
2027-01-15 – 2027-01-20
CNS - Townsville
73% AI deal score
A$365
A$263
Round trip
2027-01-16 – 2027-01-22
CNS - Townsville
71% AI deal score
A$365
A$278
Round trip
2026-12-05 – 2026-12-08
CNS - Townsville
65% AI deal score
A$401
A$316
Round trip
2026-09-06 – 2026-09-13
CNS - Townsville
37% AI deal score
A$302
A$342
Round trip
2027-01-17 – 2027-01-24
CNS - Townsville
39% AI deal score
A$365
A$366
Round trip
2026-08-16 – 2026-08-23
CNS - Townsville
38% AI deal score
A$344
A$368
Round trip
2026-10-06 – 2026-10-08
CNS - Townsville
36% AI deal score
A$293
A$368
Round trip
2026-08-13 – 2026-08-16
CNS - Townsville
40% AI deal score
A$374
A$369
Round trip
2026-08-27 – 2026-08-30
CNS - Townsville
36% AI deal score
A$357
A$388
Round trip

Cairns to Townsville: Overview

Insights for flights from Cairns to Townsville

A typical journey from Cairns to Townsville takes about 0h 55m, including connecting itineraries. Given that most itineraries connect at least once, this median journey time reflects the common travel experience on this route. When connections are involved, the median flight time extends to 14h 15m, indicating a significant difference compared to direct services.

For travelers seeking cheap flights from Cairns to Townsville, fares typically range from $219–$548, with a median of $421. Right now, current fares are above the typical level for this route. Only about 3% of recent fares were classified as a good price, suggesting that finding a low fare can be challenging.

The cheapest time to fly from Cairns to Townsville is generally in February, with a median fare of $133. Other affordable months include January, where the median fare is $156, and September, with a median of $170. These months offer the most favorable pricing for this route.

The distance between Cairns and Townsville is 285 kilometers, classifying this as a short-haul route. This relatively short distance contributes to the quick flight times for direct services.

How much is a round trip from Cairns to Townsville

Regular price: A$275 - A$552

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

The regular price range for this route is typically between AUD 275 and AUD 552. The current lowest deal is AUD 260 with QantasLink, for travel from Jan 6-Jan 16.

now A$260

Low A$275

High A$552

The cheapest time to fly from Cairns to Townsville

The cheapest month to fly from Cairns to Townsville is March, with a median price of $134. The most expensive month is August, with a median price of $517. Prices are generally lower from January to September.

March

Cheapest

Flights from A$134

August

Most Expensive

Flights from A$517

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Direct flights from Cairns to Townsville

Regional Express

Last-minute flights going from Cairns to Townsville

Sun, Jul 26

⌛ Last-Minute

CNS - Townsville

Cairns (CNS) - Townsville (TSV)

QantasLink

A$445

A$511

One-way

Mon, Jul 27

⌛ Last-Minute

CNS - Townsville

Cairns (CNS) - Townsville (TSV)

QantasLink

A$446

A$509

One-way

Mon, Jul 27

⌛ Last-Minute

CNS - Townsville

Cairns (CNS) - Townsville (TSV)

QantasLink

A$447

A$511

One-way

Tue, Jul 28

⌛ Last-Minute

CNS - Townsville

Cairns (CNS) - Townsville (TSV)

QantasLink

A$443

A$509

One-way

Wed, Jul 29

⌛ Last-Minute

CNS - Townsville

Cairns (CNS) - Townsville (TSV)

QantasLink

A$442

A$509

One-way

Thu, Jul 30

⌛ Last-Minute

CNS - Townsville

Cairns (CNS) - Townsville (TSV)

QantasLink

A$443

A$509

One-way

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

3 nights

Sep 21 - Sep 24

A$592 → A$444

25%

7 nights

Aug 17 - Aug 24

A$604 → A$488

19%

7 nights

Aug 14 - Aug 21

A$602 → A$488

19%

7 nights

Aug 19 - Aug 26

A$599 → A$488

18%

Popular Airports to fly from Cairns to Townsville

Cairns - Townsville route insights

💸 Price insights

Recent fares are above the typical level

Recent fares for Cairns to Townsville are above the typical level, with 3% good prices historically.

📅 Best time to fly

Fly in February for the best prices

Historically, February is the cheapest month to fly from Cairns to Townsville, with a median of $133.

⏱️ Flight duration

Direct flights take 0h 55m

The median flight time for a direct flight from Cairns to Townsville is 0h 55m.

✈️ Airlines & availability

Connecting flights are more common

Historically, 37.7% of recent flights from Cairns to Townsville have been direct.

🏆 Airline highlight

Regional Express offers direct flights

Regional Express is one airline that has offered direct flights on the Cairns to Townsville route.

🎯 Booking tip

Deals appear frequently

Deals on flights from Cairns to Townsville appear frequently, historically within a 30-day window.

Cairns main airports to depart from

Cairns (CNS)

Cheapest

Cairns Airport is a convenient departure point for flights to Townsville, offering competitive fares.

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

💸 Flights from ~A$340

Townsville main airports to arrive at

Townsville (TSV)

Cheapest

Townsville Airport is a convenient arrival point for travelers heading to Townsville.

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

💸 Flights from ~A$387

Airports nearby Townsville used as alternative

Cairns (CNS)

Cairns is a major international and domestic hub, offering significantly more flight frequency and destination options.

📍 ~340 km from Townsville (reachable by car)

Business & First Class Flight Deals to Townsville

66% AI deal score

$1,480

$1,002

Save $478

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to Townsville

Historically, the best prices for flights from Cairns to Townsville are found when booking 14-27 days in advance. During this period, the average price is around $215. Booking 7-13 days out typically sees an average price of $229, while waiting until 0-6 days before departure can result in an average price of $283. Prices tend to increase significantly for bookings made further in advance, with flights booked 60+ days out averaging $434.

Across the trailing quarter, a good price for a flight from Cairns to Townsville is considered to be $219 or less. The median price for this route over the same period was $421. Prices can vary, with 75% of fares historically being $548 or less. Travelers aiming for a budget-friendly trip should target fares at or below the $219 threshold.

Historically, the cheapest months to fly from Cairns to Townsville are February, with a median price of $133, and January, with a median price of $156. September also offers relatively lower prices, with a median of $170. These months typically offer fares significantly below the annual median price of $421 for this route. Travelers looking for the most economical options should consider these periods.

Related routes

More routes from Cairns

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Flights to Townsville from other cities

Flights from City of Launceston to Townsville Flights from Darwin to Townsville Flights from Denver to Townsville Flights from Hobart to Townsville Flights from Jacksonville to Townsville Flights from Los Angeles to Townsville Flights from Mackay to Townsville Flights from Melbourne to Townsville Flights from Milwaukee to Townsville Flights from Mount Isa to Townsville Flights from Newcastle upon Tyne to Townsville Flights from Sunshine Coast Region to Townsville

Cairns to Townsville: Overview

Insights for flights from Cairns to Townsville

The distance between Cairns and Townsville is 285 kilometers, classifying this as a short-haul route. This relatively short distance contributes to the quick flight times for direct services.

How much is a round trip from Cairns to Townsville

Regular price: A$275 - A$552

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

The regular price range for this route is typically between AUD 275 and AUD 552. The current lowest deal is AUD 260 with QantasLink, for travel from Jan 6-Jan 16.

now A$260

Low A$275

High A$552

The cheapest time to fly from Cairns to Townsville

March

Cheapest

Flights from A$134

August

Most Expensive

Flights from A$517

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec