Sydney (Mascot) to Cairns (SYD–CNS) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections
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No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.
SYD–CNS is served by 9 airlines with nonstop service. IndiGo, Jetstar and Virgin Australia lead the route. The flight covers 1,226 miles in approximately 3h. Beyond nonstop, 16 hubs offer 1-stop connections.
Airline Landscape
| Airline | Freq/wk | Aircraft | Duration | Dep OTP | Alliance | Codeshares |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6E IndiGo | 21 | 320, 321 | 3h-3h10 | – | – | – |
| JQ Jetstar | 21 | 320, 32Q | 3h-3h05 | – | – | – |
| VA Virgin Australia | 14 | 73H | 3h05 | – | – | – |
| CX Cathay Pacific | 12 | 73H | 3h05-3h10 | – | Oneworld | – |
| QF Qantas | 12 | 73H | 3h05 | – | Oneworld | – |
| AC Air Canada | 7 | 73H | 3h05 | – | Star Alliance | – |
| AI Air India | 7 | 73H | 3h05 | – | Star Alliance | – |
| CZ China Southern Airlines | 7 | 73H | 3h05 | – | SkyTeam | – |
| EK Emirates | 7 | 73H | 3h05 | – | – | – |
Weekly Schedule Pattern
Connection Landscape
Travel Essentials
SYD: AEDT · CNS: AEST
When it's 6:00 PM in Sydney (Mascot), it's 5:00 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 IndiGo, Air Canada, Air India, Cathay Pacific, China Southern Airlines, Emirates, Jetstar, Qantas and Virgin Australia. With 108 weekly departures, this is a heavily served route.
SYD to CNS Flight Duration and Schedule
Nonstop flight time from SYD to CNS ranges from 3 hours 0 minutes to 3 hours 10 minutes. The route covers a distance of 1,226 miles (1,974 km). There are approximately 108 weekly flights outbound and 87 return, totaling 195 flights per week in both directions.
Connecting Options and Alternatives
16 one-stop connections are available, with the fastest taking approximately 5 hours via PPP. Two-stop connections are also available via intermediate hubs.