Sydney (Mascot) to Cairns (SYD–CNS) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections
No flights match your filters.
No scheduled airline flights on this route — it's flown by charter / private operators (). No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.
Most recently operated nonstop flights — the month shown is when each was last scheduled. Most destinations remain reachable with a connection.
No discontinued nonstop flights on record for this route.
SYD–CNS is served by 3 airlines with nonstop service. Jetstar, Qantas and Virgin Australia lead the route. The flight covers 1,226 miles in approximately 3h 10m. Beyond nonstop, 1-stop connecting options are also available.
Airline Landscape
| Airline | Freq/wk | Aircraft | Duration | Dep OTP | Alliance | Codeshares |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JQ Jetstar Also: 6E | 28 | 320, 321 | 3h01-3h10 | – | – | 6E |
| QF Qantas Also: CX, CZ, EK, HA, JL, MU | 28 | 320, 73H | 3h10 | – | Oneworld | CX, CZ, EK, HA, JL, MU |
| VA Virgin Australia Also: AC, AI, CZ, HA, QR, SQ | 21 | 73H, 7M8 | 2h55-3h15 | – | – | AC, AI, CZ, HA, QR, SQ |
Weekly Schedule Pattern
Connection Landscape
Travel Essentials
SYD: AEST · CNS: AEST
When it's 6:00 PM in Sydney (Mascot), it's 6:00 PM in Cairns.
The Airport Link train (T8 line) runs from Central Station to the International Terminal in 13 minutes and to Domestic terminals in 10 minutes. Trains run roughly every 10 minutes from about 05:00 to midnight. The fare is AUD $20.10 from the CBD (Opal card); this includes a station access fee levied separately from standard fares.Taxis from the CBD cost AUD $45–65 depending on traffic and time of day; Uber is available from designated pick-up zones. The Eastern Distributor and Southern Cross Drive are the main road routes; the airport is about 10 km south of the CBD. Short-term parking at T1 international starts at AUD $8 for 30 minutes.
SYD–CNS Quick Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Flights from SYD to CNS
Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD) and Cairns International Airport (CNS) are connected by nonstop service from Jetstar, Qantas and Virgin Australia. With 180 weekly departures, this is a heavily served route.
SYD to CNS Flight Duration and Schedule
Nonstop flight time from SYD to CNS is about 3 hours 10 minutes gate to gate. The route covers a distance of 1,226 miles (1,974 km). There are approximately 180 weekly flights outbound and 183 return, totaling 363 flights per week in both directions.
Connecting Options and Alternatives
1-stop connecting options are also available, commonly via Townsville, Gold Coast and Brisbane. Two-stop connections are also available via intermediate hubs.