Cheap flights from Sydney to Cairns

One-way fares from $143 · SYD → CNS · prices found by travellers in the last 48 hours

Compare all dates Cairns → Sydney
Cheapest fare
$143

Jetstar · Fri, 4 Dec

Cheapest month
December

from $143

Direct flights
Yes

Jetstar, Virgin Australia and Qantas

Flight time
3h 00m

1,960 km

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Cheapest month to fly from Sydney to Cairns

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

  1. November 2026 $155
  2. December 2026 Cheapest $143
  3. January 2027 $144
  4. February 2027 $143
  5. March 2027 $146
  6. May 2027 $156
  7. June 2027 $158
  8. July 2027 $157
  9. October 2027 $260

Cheapest dates in December 2026

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

Jetstar
Depart11:25 Fri, 4 DecSYD → CNS 3h 05m · Direct
$143one way, per person
View deal
Virgin Australia
Depart08:10 Wed, 2 DecSYD → CNS 3h 05m · Direct
$150one way, per person
View deal
Jetstar
Depart06:20 Thu, 3 DecSYD → CNS 3h 00m · Direct
$150one way, per person
View deal
Jetstar
Depart06:20 Tue, 1 DecSYD → CNS 3h 00m · Direct
$165one way, per person
View deal
Jetstar
Depart06:20 Tue, 15 DecSYD → CNS 3h 00m · Direct
$174one way, per person
View deal
Virgin Australia
Depart08:10 Sun, 13 DecSYD → CNS 3h 05m · Direct
$201one way, per person
View deal
Virgin Australia
Depart09:00 Tue, 22 DecSYD → CNS 3h 55m · 1 stop
$249one way, per person
View deal
Virgin Australia
Depart19:00 Mon, 21 DecSYD → CNS 3h 55m · 1 stop
$251one way, per person
View deal
See every date in December 2026 →

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 →

About flights from Sydney to Cairns

Sydney (SYD) and Cairns (CNS) are about 1,960 km apart. Direct flights take around 3h 00m, and recent direct fares were with Jetstar, Virgin Australia and Qantas. Over the next few months, one-way fares start from $143, and December 2026 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 Sydney to Cairns?

The cheapest one-way fare we've seen recently is $143 with Jetstar, departing Friday 4 December 2026. Over the coming months, the lowest fare in each month ranges from $143 to $260.

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

December 2026 currently has the lowest fares, from $143 one way.

Are there direct flights from Sydney to Cairns?

Yes. Recent direct fares were with Jetstar, Virgin Australia and Qantas.

How long is the flight from Sydney to Cairns?

A direct flight takes about 3h 00m. Sydney and Cairns are around 1,960 km apart.

Which airlines fly from Sydney to Cairns?

Recent fares on this route were with Jetstar, Virgin Australia and Qantas.

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