Brisbane to Cairns (BNE–CNS) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections
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No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.
BNE–CNS is served by 2 airlines with nonstop service. Virgin Australia and Jetstar lead the route. The flight covers 865 miles in approximately 2h 15m. Beyond nonstop, 21 hubs offer 1-stop connections.
Airline Landscape
| Airline | Freq/wk | Aircraft | Duration | Dep OTP | Alliance | Codeshares |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VA Virgin Australia Also: AC, CZ, QR, SQ | 34 | 73H, 7M8 | 2h30 | – | – | AC, CZ, QR, SQ |
| JQ Jetstar Also: 6E, QF | 23 | 320 | 2h15-2h38 | – | – | 6E, QF |
Weekly Schedule Pattern
Connection Landscape
Other ways to reach Cairns from Brisbane
| Metric | BNE→CNS | MCY→CNS | OOL→CNS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distance from BNE | – | 55 mi | 59 mi |
| Nonstop airlines | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Weekly flights | 249 | 4 | 26 |
| Flight time | 2h 15m | 2h 20m | 2h 30m |
Travel Essentials
BNE: AEST · CNS: AEST
When it's 6:00 PM in Brisbane, it's 6:00 PM in Cairns.
The Airtrain runs from Brisbane CBD stations (Central, Roma Street, Fortitude Valley, South Brisbane) to the Domestic and International terminals in 20 minutes. Walk-up fare is AUD 22.30 from city stations. Pre-booking online drops the price to AUD 10.95-18.96. Two adults traveling together pay AUD 32 total, and kids under 14 ride free with a paying adult. Services run every 15 minutes during peak and every 30 minutes off-peak, from 05:04 to 22:04 weekdays (06:04 weekends).
Uber and Didi from the CBD cost AUD 25-45 plus a AUD 4.86 airport access fee. The ride takes 20 minutes outside peak. Standard taxis are more expensive at AUD 55-80 plus the same airport fee. If you are south of the river (South Bank, West End), take the Airtrain from South Brisbane station. Gold Coast passengers connect via Helensvale station.
BNE–CNS Quick Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Flights from BNE to CNS
Brisbane International Airport (BNE) and Cairns International Airport (CNS) are connected by nonstop service from Jetstar and Virgin Australia. With 249 weekly departures, this is a heavily served route.
BNE to CNS Flight Duration and Schedule
Nonstop flight time from BNE to CNS ranges from 2 hours 15 minutes to 2 hours 38 minutes. The route covers a distance of 865 miles (1,392 km). There are approximately 249 weekly flights outbound and 252 return, totaling 501 flights per week in both directions.
Connecting Options and Alternatives
21 one-stop connections are available, with the fastest taking approximately 9 hours via POM. Two-stop connections are also available via intermediate hubs. Nearby alternative airports include Maroochydore (MCY) and Gold Coast (OOL).