Cheap flights from Shanghai to Cairns

One-way fares from $298 · SHA → CNS · prices found by travellers in the last 48 hours

Compare all dates Cairns → Shanghai
Cheapest fare
$298

AirAsia X · Sun, May 9

Cheapest month
May

from $298

Direct flights
Not recently

Usually 1+ stop

Quickest trip
9h 20m

5,950 km

Get a price alert

We'll email you when Shanghai → Cairns drops to your price. It's free, and you can stop any time.

Today's cheapest fare is $298. We'll send one email to confirm. See our privacy policy.

Cheapest month to fly from Shanghai to Cairns

Lowest one-way fare per person in each month. Choose a month to see every date.

  1. November 2026 $473
  2. April 2027 $488
  3. May 2027 Cheapest $298

Cheapest dates in May 2027

The lowest fares we've seen for each day, cheapest first.

AirAsia X
Depart01:35 Sun, May 9PVG → CNS 13h 25m · 2 stops
$298one way, per person
View deal
See every date in May 2027 →

Plan the rest of your trip to Cairns

Where to stay, what to do and getting around, from our travel partners.

Where to stay

Hotels in CairnsCompare places to stay on Booking.com Find hotels →

Things to do

Things to do in CairnsTours, attractions and day trips on Klook Explore →

Getting around

Airport transfer in CairnsPre-book a driver to meet you at arrivals, with Kiwitaxi Book a transfer → Car hire in CairnsCompare rental cars from major brands on EconomyBookings Compare cars →

Stay connected

eSIM for AustraliaMobile data from the moment you land, by Airalo Get eSIM →

About flights from Shanghai to Cairns

Shanghai (SHA) and Cairns (CNS) are about 5,950 km apart. We haven't seen direct fares on this route recently, so expect at least one stop; the quickest journey we've seen takes about 9h 20m. Over the next few months, one-way fares start from $298, and May 2027 is currently the cheapest month to fly.

These prices come from searches travellers made in the last 48 hours, so they move quickly. If you see a good fare, it's worth booking soon. FlightsExp is free to use: you book directly with our travel partner.

Frequently asked questions

How much is a flight from Shanghai to Cairns?

The cheapest one-way fare we've seen recently is $298 with AirAsia X, departing Sunday, May 9, 2027. Over the coming months, the lowest fare in each month ranges from $298 to $488.

What is the cheapest month to fly from Shanghai to Cairns?

May 2027 currently has the lowest fares, from $298 one way.

Are there direct flights from Shanghai to Cairns?

We haven't seen direct fares recently, so most journeys include at least one stop.

How long is the flight from Shanghai to Cairns?

The quickest journey we've seen takes about 9h 20m. Shanghai and Cairns are around 5,950 km apart.

Which airlines fly from Shanghai to Cairns?

Recent fares on this route were with Peach, Vietjet and AirAsia X.

More cheap flights from Shanghai

Compare flights to Cairns from other cities →