Find flights
Deals
Insights
When to book
FAQs & Tips
Direct Flights
Airlines

MEL - CNS

Find cheap flight tickets from Melbourne to Cairns

1 adult
Sat 1/6
Sat 8/6

Search hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to Cairns

 
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Melbourne to Cairns, as well as popular online travel agencies
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Melbourne to Cairns, as well as popular online travel agencies
In the last 7 days, travellers have searched 43,740,974 times on KAYAK, and here's why:

Save 23% or moreCompare multiple travel sites with one search.

Track pricesNot ready to book? Create a price alert for when prices drop.

Free to useThere are no hidden charges or fees.

Filter your dealsChoose cabin class, free Wi-Fi and more.

Flights from Melbourne to Cairns - Travel Insights & Trends

Get data-powered insights and trends into flights from Melbourne to Cairns to help you find the cheapest flights, the best time to fly and much more.

What is the cheapest month to fly from Melbourne Airport to Cairns?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the median of all values for each month.
The cheapest month for flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns is October, where tickets cost ₹ 16,776 on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are December and June, where the average cost of tickets is ₹ 32,383 and ₹ 31,465 respectively.

How far in advance should I book a flight from Melbourne Airport to Cairns?

To calculate daily average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each day before departure over the last year for flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the average of all the values for each month.
To get a below average price on the flight from Melbourne Airport to Cairns, you should book around 6 weeks before departure. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 86 days before departure.

Which airlines fly most frequently between Melbourne and Cairns?

Jetstar connects Melbourne to Cairns with up to 2 flights per day. Virgin Australia also offers 2 flights per day, while Qantas Airways follows with 1 flight per day.

Which airlines fly direct between Melbourne Airport and Cairns?

Airline and price data is aggregated from results in KAYAK’s search results from the last 2 weeks for flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns.
There are 3 airlines that fly direct from Melbourne Airport to Cairns. They are: Jetstar, Qantas Airways and Virgin Australia. The cheapest price of all airlines flying this route was found with Virgin Australia at ₹ 11,573 for a one-way flight. On average, the best prices for this route can be found at Jetstar.

How many flights are there between Melbourne Airport and Cairns per day?

Each day, there are between 5 and 6 nonstop flights that take off from Melbourne Airport and land in Cairns, with an average flight time of 3h 21m. The most common departure time is 06:00 and most flights take off in the morning. Each week, there are 36 flights. The most frequent day of departure is Saturday, when 17% of all weekly flights depart. The fewest flights depart on a Wednesday.

Which cabin class options are there for flights between Melbourne Airport and Cairns?

The average price of flights for each cabin class for the route found by users searching on KAYAK over the last 2 weeks.
There is only one cabin class option available for the route, which is Economy. Perform a search on KAYAK to find the latest prices and availability for all cabin fares, which differ across airlines.

What’s the earliest departure time from Melbourne to Cairns?

Early birds can take the earliest flight from Melbourne Airport at 06:00 and will be landing in Cairns at 09:20.

What’s the latest departure time from Melbourne to Cairns?

If you prefer to fly at night, the latest flight from Melbourne Airport to Cairns jets off at 11:20 and lands at 14:40.

Good to know

Low season

February

High season

June
Best time to beat the crowds (11% less expensive on average)
Most popular time to fly (28% more expensive on average)

When to book flights from Melbourne to Cairns

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from Melbourne to Cairns based on our flight data from the last year. Discover the cheapest month and even day to fly.
Estimated return price
KAYAK looks at all historical flight data for each date to provide a predicted price for one-way trips or returns with a duration up to 40 days. While we try to provide actual minimum prices for each date, some prices are predictions and actual prices may differ.

FAQs for booking Melbourne to Cairns flights

  • Is there a hotel near the airport in Cairns?

    Yes – if you are considering booking a hotel close to the airport, check out The Lakes Cairns Resort & Spa or the Comfort Inn Discovery Cairns. Both of them are located a few minutes’ drive from the airport and provide transfers for an additional fee. For those who are travelling on a budget, Calypso Inn Backpackers Resort near the terminal building might be a better option.

  • Can I hire a car at Cairns Airport?

    Yes, you can choose from six car rental companies with counters in the Arrivals Hall at Cairns Airport. It is possible to check the full list of companies on the airport website and contact them to make all the necessary arrangements before your flight from Melbourne to Cairns.

  • Are there any shops at the airport in Cairns?

    Yes, there are a number of shops operating at the airport in Cairns, which between them sell a wide range of products. You will easily find snacks, travel accessories, cosmetics, reading material, souvenirs, electronics and some items of clothing.

  • What are the transportation options available at the Cairns Airport?

    The most convenient option for getting to your final destination from the airport is to book a hotel that offers airport transfers, but if this is not possible you can use the Sun Palm shuttle, which will drop you off in front of your hotel. To book the shuttle, simply look for the Sun Palm welcome desks at the airport. Passengers who prefer public transportation can catch the Airport Connect bus (a ticket costs $6) and then connect to a Translink bus costing around $2.

  • Which aircraft models fly most regularly from Melbourne to Cairns?

    The Boeing 737-800 Passenger/BBJ2 (winglets) is the aircraft model that flies most regularly on the Melbourne to Cairns flight route.

  • Which airline alliances offer flights from Melbourne to Cairns?

    oneworld, SkyTeam, and Star Alliance are the airline alliances operating flights between Melbourne and Cairns, with oneworld being the most commonly used for this route.

  • On which days can I fly direct from Melbourne to Cairns?

    There are direct flights from Melbourne to Cairns on a daily basis.

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from Melbourne to Cairns?

    KAYAK is a travel search engine. That means we look across the web to find the best prices we can find for our users. With over 2 billion flight queries processed yearly, we are able to display a variety of prices and options on flights from Melbourne to Cairns.

  • How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket from Melbourne to Cairns?

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to Cairns from Melbourne is likely to change within 7 days, so travellers know whether to wait or book now.

  • What is the Hacker Fare option on flights from Melbourne to Cairns?

    Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets in order to save you money over a traditional return ticket. You could then fly to Cairns with an airline and back to Melbourne with another airline.

  • What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight from Melbourne to Cairns?

    Sometimes travel dates aren't set in stone. If your preferred travel dates have some wiggle room, flexible dates will show you all the options when flying to Cairns from Melbourne up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

See more FAQs

Top tips for finding a cheap flight from Melbourne to Cairns

  • Looking for a cheap flight? 25% of our users found flights on this route for ₹ 10,378 or less one-way.
  • Travellers who book their flights from Melbourne to Cairns with Jetstar can purchase some extras to make their flights more comfortable and the travel procedure much smoother. It is possible to, for example, add a larger luggage allowance, pick a seat, pre-order food or choose your entertainment options. Travellers who prefer as many conveniences as possible can, of course, opt for Business Class.
  • To make the time pass faster until your flight from Melbourne to Cairns, connect to the Internet at the airport in Melbourne and enjoy surfing the web, chatting with friends or scrolling through social media. Melbourne Airport offers unlimited Wi-Fi free of charge.
  • Passengers who are travelling with kids can take them to the children’s play area at the airport in Melbourne so that they are not too bored while waiting for the flight. For parents with infants, the airport features many baby changing facilities located throughout both terminal buildings.
  • If after landing at Cairns Airport you realize that you are short on cash, you don’t need to worry. There are a number of cash machines at your disposal, which you will find in the Arrivals Hall.
  • Starving after your flight from Melbourne to Cairns? There are a few restaurants to choose from at Cairns Airport depending on what you’re in the mood for. The options include Hero Sushi, Hungry Jack’s and the Great Northern Bar & Eatery.
  • If you need some help in relation to the city or the airport itself, you can ask one of the roaming Airport Ambassadors for help. To find them, simply look out for smiley people in blue shirts.
See more tips

Prefer to fly direct from Melbourne to Cairns?

Find which airlines fly direct from Melbourne to Cairns, which days they fly and book direct flights.

Direct departures

Melbourne to Cairns

Monday

Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific, China Eastern, +9 more

Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific, +10 more

Tuesday

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, China Southern, +8 more

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, +9 more

Wednesday

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, China Southern, +8 more

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, +9 more

Thursday

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, China Southern, +8 more

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, +9 more

Friday

Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific, China Eastern, +9 more

Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific, +10 more

Saturday

Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific, China Eastern, +9 more

Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific, +10 more

Sunday

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, China Southern, +8 more

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, +9 more

See more direct flights

Direct returns

Cairns to Melbourne

Monday

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, China Southern, +7 more

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, +8 more

Tuesday

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, China Southern, +7 more

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, +8 more

Wednesday

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, China Southern, +7 more

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, +8 more

Thursday

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, China Southern, +7 more

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, +8 more

Friday

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, China Southern, +7 more

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, +8 more

Saturday

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, China Southern, +7 more

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, +8 more

Sunday

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, China Southern, +7 more

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, +8 more

See more direct flights
See more direct flights

Top airlines flying from Melbourne to Cairns

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from Melbourne to Cairns. Airline scores are aggregated from all reviews left by passengers on KAYAK after flying with an airline. KAYAK doesn’t show reviews that are older than 5 years. Learn how KAYAK collects reviews.
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from Melbourne to Cairns? KAYAK airline reviews give an overall score for each airline based on loads of factors, including comfort, boarding, in-flight entertainment and more, to make your decision easier. See airline scores according to verified KAYAK customer reviews.
7.7
Virgin AustraliaOverall score based on 672 reviews
6.8Entertainment
6.8Food
8.4Crew
7.9Boarding
7.6Comfort
Airline reviews

This time is good . Don’t cancel flight with out early notice .

10.0 ExcellentAnonymous, Mar 2024BNE - MEL
Read more about Virgin Australia reviews

This time is good . Don’t cancel flight with out early notice .

Very good experience, considering the short flight the meals were served promptly after takeoff.

X class seats in row 3 with the new configuration are very poor in fact I feel 3B and 3E should no longer be considered as X class seat as there is no forward seat pocket available to these seats and greatly reduced leg room due the intrusion of the business class armrests/table module

It was pretty good. Everyone friendly. Like all airlines, the draconian limitations on baggage and weight and not giving even a free soda kind of drags down the experience a bit.

Last 10 minutes boarding they canceled the flight and didn’t organise anything

Estheticly the plane looks great, although the seats are way too upright. If the seats were just slightly more reclined then the comfort level would increase tenfold. I had the stiffest neck after just a short flight due to this. A nap was almost out of the question.

Cabin crew were very professional and welcoming. They certainly appeared to have lifted their game. Congratulations

I know not directly a Virgin "thing" but I hold Virgin responsible for their subcontractors. Had to wait 45 minutes waiting for baggage at PER before the belt conveyor even started. This is unacceptable and hopefully Virgin engages with whoever to pull their fingers out. I realise PER staff are generally slow at the best of times but this was ridiculous. Maybe more seating for those waiting, a cafe in the baggage area for a light meal while we wait or at the very least a troop of dancing girls to entertain the punters while they stare at the conveyor belt start light almost willing it to fire up.

Very poor. Flight was cancelled due to captain exceeding hours. Told to fend for ourselves for 12 hours until a new flight could be done. This meant overnight accommodation in Hobart. Next plane was delayed and no food onboard. No apologies from Virgin. Extremely disappointing.

Flight was cancelled due to a mechanical fault - Virgin rebooked me on a flight 6 hours later so I cancelled and flew with another carrier

a constant reminder that you need to work harder so you can avoid this airline

Note that food has to be purchased in flight. No free food. And no entertainment in flight. So I’ve treated these two items as okay which, in this case, means neutral/not applicable.

My Dad needed assistance to board the plane. The Jetstar staff were excellent with him and made the experience a lot easier😁

No food taken so can't rate also no entertainment so can't rate.

Would be better if can provide small free snacks on a long flight

Boarding was easy and unstressful, though the early "final call" was a bit off-putting. The crew were pleasant, and the seats were comfortable. The prices for food and drink were reasonable, apart from tea and coffee, where simple percolated coffee was charged at espresso prices. Deboarding was OK, though some Jetstar passengers appear to have a bad habit of pushing forward from their assigned rows, making it more difficult to get out for passengers that have paid a premium to sit up-front. Jetstar might want to look to address this to stop it from spreading.

I was allocated an exit row seat and was told to move so it could be given away to someone who had purchased two extra legroom seats and one regular seat but wanted the three to sit together. I was also charged for entertainment after booking but before checking in, and the ground crew couldn't do anything about refunding it. When the whole plane was given access to the entertainment as an apology for the flight being four hours late, I was told they couldn't do anything about that either, so I was charged for something I didn't want even though it would have been free anyway

I got to the airport earlier than I expected, and they let me change to an earlier flight with no trouble.

It was a super crowded time to travel out of Melbourne, but the flight was OK

Worst flying experience of my life. FIVE HOURS delayed! Rude and unhelpful staff and poor communication from the grounds team. Never flying Jetstar again

Book cheap flights from Melbourne to Cairns

One-way flight deals

directQatar Airways
3h 25mMEL-CNS
directEtihad Airways
3h 25mMEL-CNS
directCathay Pacific
3h 20mMEL-CNS
directQantas Airways
3h 20mMEL-CNS
directEmirates
3h 20mMEL-CNS
directChina Southern
3h 20mMEL-CNS
directJetstar
3h 20mMEL-CNS
directChina Eastern
3h 20mMEL-CNS
directVirgin Australia
3h 25mMEL-CNS
directAir New Zealand
3h 20mMEL-CNS
directUnited Airlines
3h 25mMEL-CNS
directSingapore Airlines
3h 25mMEL-CNS

Search by stops

Search by airline

Melbourne - Cairns Flights

Departure:

Melbourne (MEL)Australia

Destination:

Cairns (CNS)Australia

Cabin classes:

₹ 22,117

Browse origins:

  • Flights » 
  • Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine)

Browse destinations:

  • Flights » 
  • Cairns