C$ 146 Find Cheap Flights from Cairns to Brisbane – Compare and Save

These are the earliest and latest flight times available from Cairns to Brisbane:

• Earliest: departs at 6:00 am and lands at 8:18 am
• Latest: departs at 8:55 pm and lands at 11:13 pm.

The flight takes about 2h 18m.

Only Economy Class is available on flights from Cairns to Brisbane.

A direct flight from Cairns to Brisbane takes 2h 18m, covering 2,239 km.

No, a passport is not required for this domestic route, but you will need a real ID-compliant driver's license, a state ID, or another TSA-accepted form of identification.

Round-trip flights from Cairns to Brisbane range from C$ 220 to C$ 368, with an average of C$ 276 over the past 12 months. Anything below C$ 220 counts as a good deal.

Last-minute fares on this route – booked within 2 weeks of departure – run 37% above the route average of C$ 276. Book 5 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

On this route, direct flights are cheaper than layover options on average. Direct fares average C$ 276 round-trip, compared to C$ 373 via a layover through Townsville (TSV).

Qantas Airways is slightly above the route average for timely arrivals, while Virgin Australia has a lower on-time arrival rate. On-time arrival rates on Cairns to Brisbane flights are:

• Qantas Airways: 92% on time
• Virgin Australia: 90% on time
• Jetstar: 90% on time

On average, flights on this route are punctual 90% of the time.

There is no standard. Checked bag policies vary by airline on this route. Most carriers charge C$ 32–C$ 140 for the first checked bag in economy. Premium fares and elite status bookings typically include a free checked bag.

The Boeing 737-800 Passenger/BBJ2 (winglets) family is used most often on this route, operated mainly by Virgin Australia and Qantas Airways. Other aircraft seen on the route include Airbus A320-100/200 variants.

Morning is the busiest departure period on Cairns to Brisbane flights, with 54% leaving in that window. Afternoon departures account for 31%, Evening flights for 15%, and Night flights for 0%.

One-way fares from Cairns to Brisbane are currently in line with typical prices for this route. Average one-way fares are about C$ 182.

Brisbane Airport (BNE) hosts 5 major car rental companies, with daily rates starting from around C$ 15 for economy cars. Top options include:
• Bargain Car Rentals
• Simba Car Hire
• East Coast Car Rentals
• Alpha
• EverythingFleet

Flights from Cairns to Brisbane usually depart from Cairns (CNS) and arrive at Brisbane (BNE).

Night flights have the fewest delays on this route. Delays tend to pile up throughout the day as one late flight pushes the next, so earlier departures are usually more reliable.

A flight is considered delayed when it departs 15 minutes or more after its scheduled time. This is the standard used by the US Department of Transportation and most airline industry reporting. On the Cairns to Brisbane route, 10% of flights were delayed in the past 3 months, with delays averaging 1 hour 37 minutes.

Most connecting flights from Cairns to Brisbane pass through Townsville (TSV), which handles 100% of one-stop traffic on this route. Other layover airports each see under 5%.

Yes. Being flexible with your travel dates can save you up to 24% on the Cairns to Brisbane route. Thursday is the cheapest departure day at C$ 241 round-trip on average, while Sunday is the most expensive at C$ 317, a difference of C$ 76. KAYAK's flexible dates feature shows options up to 3 days before and after your selected dates, making it easier to compare nearby fares.

3 airlines operate flights between Cairns and Brisbane. The airlines offering direct flights on this route include:

• Qantas Airways
• Virgin Australia
• Jetstar

Some of the most popular sights in Brisbane are Treasury Casino, South Bank Parklands, and Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. These are among the most viewed places in Brisbane on KAYAK.

Among airlines operating Cairns to Brisbane flights:

• Virgin Australia: offers free seat selection
• Qantas Airways: offers free seat selection

Extra legroom and free seat selection availability depends on fare class and route.

Here are some options for this route, based on selected ticket types and cabin classes:

• Virgin Australia: a carry-on bag and a checked bag in Economy Class
• Jetstar: a carry-on bag and a checked bag in Economy Class
• Qantas Airways: a carry-on bag and a checked bag in Economy Class

Bag allowance can vary by ticket type, cabin class, route, and airline, so travellers should check the fare details before booking.