Which airlines fly to Cairns?

There may be other airlines that fly to Cairns from South Africa, but the most popular among our users are Singapore Airlines, Qantas Airways and Cathay Pacific. These airlines should offer flights to Cairns on a routine basis if you’re flying from one of the more popular airports in South Africa.

Singapore Airlines Flights to Cairns

Singapore Airlines operates around 29 flights into Cairns in any given week. The most common departure point for these flights was from Brisbane, with the best return Singapore Airlines deal found being R12 611 (Cape Town Intl to Cairns). Users have rated Singapore Airlines 8,1/10 in over 1 380 reviews on momondo.

Cathay Pacific Flights to Cairns

Cathay Pacific flight deals to Cairns start from R14 819 - this is the best price found recently on momondo, and was a return journey departing from Johannesburg OR Tambo. Over any normal week, Cathay Pacific flight prices are typically higher, but vary depending on where you fly from - Brisbane is the most popular Cathay Pacific departure point to Cairns so generally has the most availability. Cathay Pacific is scored a 7,6/10 in 1 023 reviews.

R10 728 Cheap Flights to Cairns in 2025/26

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Find the cheapest flights from South Africa to Cairns

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11:00 - 10:45JNB-CNS

39h 45m2 stops

11:25 - 7:25CNS-JNB

28h 00m1 stop

R15 335Cathay Pacific

Find Deal

Fri, Nov 21 - Sat, Feb 7

11:00 - 10:45JNB-CNS

39h 45m2 stops

6:00 - 7:25CNS-JNB

33h 25m2 stops

R15 718Multiple Airlines

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Fri, Nov 21 - Sat, Feb 7

19:55 - 17:20JNB-CNS

37h 25m1 stop

18:35 - 18:35CNS-JNB

32h 00m1 stop

R16 500Singapore Airlines

Find Deal

Sat, Nov 15 - Sun, Feb 15

11:00 - 10:45JNB-CNS

39h 45m2 stops

12:35 - 7:25CNS-JNB

50h 50m2 stops

R16 587Cathay Pacific

Find Deal

Wed, Nov 5 - Sat, Nov 8

11:00 - 10:45JNB-CNS

39h 45m2 stops

17:00 - 7:25CNS-JNB

46h 25m2 stops

R16 831Cathay Pacific

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Wed, Nov 5 - Sat, Nov 8

11:20 - 10:45JNB-CNS

39h 25m2 stops

6:00 - 7:25CNS-JNB

33h 25m2 stops

R16 883Multiple Airlines

Find Deal

Sat, Nov 15 - Sun, Feb 15

19:55 - 17:20JNB-CNS

61h 25m1 stop

18:35 - 18:35CNS-JNB

56h 00m1 stop

R20 169Singapore Airlines

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Tue, Dec 2 - Mon, Jan 12

9:25 - 23:05JNB-CNS

29h 40m2 stops

9:15 - 15:35CNS-JNB

38h 20m2 stops

R23 159Qatar Airways

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Tue, Dec 2 - Mon, Jan 12

17:30 - 8:20JNB-CNS

30h 50m1 stop

12:35 - 15:00CNS-JNB

34h 25m1 stop

R25 472Qantas Airways

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Thu, Nov 27 - Thu, Dec 4

13:45 - 8:35JNB-CNS

34h 50m2 stops

9:15 - 8:40CNS-JNB

31h 25m2 stops

R28 497Qatar Airways

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Tue, Dec 23 - Mon, Jan 12

Fly from

Route

Depart

Return

Price

JohannesburgCairns

JNB - CNS

JNBCNS

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Fri 21/11

11:00-10:45

2 stops39h 45m

Cairns

Sat 7/2

11:25-7:25

1 stop28h 00m

R15 335

JohannesburgCairns

JNB - CNS

JNBCNS

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Fri 21/11

11:00-10:45

2 stops39h 45m

Cairns

Sat 7/2

6:00-7:25

2 stops33h 25m

R15 718

JohannesburgCairns

JNB - CNS

JNBCNS

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Sat 15/11

19:55-17:20

1 stop37h 25m

Cairns

Sun 15/2

18:35-18:35

1 stop32h 00m

R16 500

JohannesburgCairns

JNB - CNS

JNBCNS

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Wed 5/11

11:00-10:45

2 stops39h 45m

Cairns

Sat 8/11

12:35-7:25

2 stops50h 50m

R16 587

JohannesburgCairns

JNB - CNS

JNBCNS

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Wed 5/11

11:00-10:45

2 stops39h 45m

Cairns

Sat 8/11

17:00-7:25

2 stops46h 25m

R16 831

JohannesburgCairns

JNB - CNS

JNBCNS

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Sat 15/11

11:20-10:45

2 stops39h 25m

Cairns

Sun 15/2

6:00-7:25

2 stops33h 25m

R16 883

JohannesburgCairns

JNB - CNS

JNBCNS

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Tue 2/12

19:55-17:20

1 stop61h 25m

Cairns

Mon 12/1

18:35-18:35

1 stop56h 00m

R20 169

JohannesburgCairns

JNB - CNS

JNBCNS

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Tue 2/12

9:25-23:05

2 stops29h 40m

Cairns

Mon 12/1

9:15-15:35

2 stops38h 20m

R23 159

JohannesburgCairns

JNB - CNS

JNBCNS

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Thu 27/11

17:30-8:20

1 stop30h 50m

Cairns

Thu 4/12

12:35-15:00

1 stop34h 25m

R25 472

JohannesburgCairns

JNB - CNS

JNBCNS

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Tue 23/12

13:45-8:35

2 stops34h 50m

Cairns

Mon 12/1

9:15-8:40

2 stops31h 25m

R28 497

Flights are sorted by cheapest return flights first.

Showing 1-10 of 16 resultsSorted by cheapest first

Cairns flights insights and trends

Explore insights for your Cairns flight to craft the best travel plan

What is the cheapest month to fly to Cairns?

If you aren’t able to travel during the month of October, then book flights to Cairns from South Africa during May instead. Flights to Cairns in May, while not as cheap as those in October, still average around R15 144.

What is the cheapest day to depart on your flight to Cairns?

On average, the least expensive day to fly to Cairns from South Africa is on a Tuesday. momondo users have found tickets for Tuesday departures for as low as R20 067. However, this price may fluctuate depending on the airline, the season, and holidays. Be sure to avoid booking your departure on a Wednesday as prices are generally higher than usual. According to our data, the average ticket price to Cairns on Wednesday is R30 704.

What is the cheapest time of day to depart on your flight to Cairns?

According to our data, the cheapest time of day to fly to Cairns is at midday. momondo users have found flights departing from South Africa to Cairns at midday for as low as R21 264. Keep in mind that these prices may fluctuate based on what airline you choose and the time of year you plan to travel. In contrast, the most expensive time of day to depart to Cairns is in the evening when prices are around R27 484.

Cheapest flights to Cairns

Find the cheapest flights to Cairns from your nearest city or airport

Find flights from Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport to Cairns

CHEAPEST MONTH TO FLY TO CAIRNS FROM JOHANNESBURG OR TAMBO AIRPORT	October	21% cheaper	Flying from Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport to Cairns costs on average just R14 588 in October
MOST EXPENSIVE MONTH TO FLY TO CAIRNS FROM JOHANNESBURG OR TAMBO AIRPORT	December	32% more expensive	It costs about R24 307 for flights to Cairns from Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport in December
MOST POPULAR MONTH TO FLY TO CAIRNS FROM JOHANNESBURG OR TAMBO AIRPORT	March	833% more users visited	More momondo users searched in flights to Cairns from Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport in March than any other month

Cheap Cairns flight deals and tips

Summary info about Cairns flight prices, duration and airlines

Best One-Way Price	R10 728
Best Round-Trip Price	R15 335
Fastest flight time	37h 25m
Popular in	December

The best one-way flight price to Cairns from South Africa in the last 72 hours is R10 728 (Johannesburg OR Tambo to Cairns).

Search Deals

The best round-trip flight price to Cairns from South Africa in the last 72 hours is R15 335 (Johannesburg OR Tambo to Cairns).

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The fastest flight to Cairns from South Africa takes 37h 25m (Johannesburg OR Tambo to Cairns).

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December has the highest demand for flights to Cairns, with a 7% price increase on average.

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Frequently asked questions about flying to Cairns

Is there an alternative airport near Cairns?

Bloomfield Airport can be an alternative airport used for travel to Cairns.

How long does it take to fly to Cairns?

Flight times from South Africa to Cairns vary, but if you’re flying out of Johannesburg OR Tambo and flying into Cairns (one of the most popular routes), then the duration is 37h 25m on average. Another popular route from South Africa to Cairns is flying from Cape Town Intl to Cairns, which will take roughly . Keep in mind that layovers or delays could extend your travel time.

When did momondo last update prices for flights to Cairns Airport?

Prices for flights to Cairns Airport are refreshed on a daily basis.

How many operators does momondo search for flights to Cairns Airport?

As of October 2025, there are 3 operators available to choose from for flights to Cairns Airport.

How old do you have to be to fly to Cairns Airport?

The minimum age a child must be to fly alone is five but airlines that offer an unaccompanied minor (UNMR) service will have their own age restrictions, including rules around flight length, timings, and stopovers. We always recommend checking with the individual airline you are booking with to travel to Cairns Airport.

What documentation or ID do you need to fly to Cairns Airport?

The required travel and health documents for your Cairns Airport trip may vary depending on your itinerary and personal circumstances. As a general rule, you should carry multiple documents, including a national ID card or driver's licence and a passport valid for six months after your intended arrival at Cairns Airport. We recommend that you seek guidance from your airline or a reliable third party such as IATA.

Why use momondo?

Why should I use momondo to find a flight deal to Cairns?

To find the flight that best suits your needs, momondo gathers a range of flights from a large pool of different airlines and agents; you can then use our insights and filters to find and book the right flight to Cairns.

Can I find flights to Cairns with flexible booking policies on momondo?

Flights to Cairns with flexible booking policies can be found by using the search form above and then selecting our dedicated flexible booking filter, which will highlight only the flights where this policy is applied.

How can momondo help me find flights to Cairns?

Once all potential Cairns flight options are in front of you momondo lets you sort and filter flights based on preferences such as airline, price and flight times, amongst many other options.

I’m not ready to book a flight to Cairns right now. Can momondo alert me if prices change?

If you are simply researching potential flights to Cairns, momondo offers a useful price alert feature which will track prices for flights to Cairns and alert you when they change.

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Popular Flights to Cairns

Johannesburg to Cairns Flightsfrom R864

R10 728 Cheap flights to Cairns

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a momondo user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight to Cairns departing on 2/12. Fares may change, and may not be available for all flights or travel dates. Click the price to refresh the search for this deal.

Big names, great deals

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Cairns flights insights and trends

Explore insights for your Cairns flight to craft the best travel plan

What is the cheapest month to fly to Cairns?

If you aren’t able to travel during the month of October, then book flights to Cairns from South Africa during May instead. Flights to Cairns in May, while not as cheap as those in October, still average around R15 144.

What is the cheapest day to depart on your flight to Cairns?

What is the cheapest time of day to depart on your flight to Cairns?

Cheapest flights to Cairns

Find the cheapest flights to Cairns from your nearest city or airport

Cheap Cairns flight deals and tips

Summary info about Cairns flight prices, duration and airlines

Best One-Way Price

Best Round-Trip Price

Fastest flight time

Popular in

Frequently asked questions about flying to Cairns

Is there an alternative airport near Cairns?

How long does it take to fly to Cairns?

When did momondo last update prices for flights to Cairns Airport?

How many operators does momondo search for flights to Cairns Airport?

How old do you have to be to fly to Cairns Airport?

What documentation or ID do you need to fly to Cairns Airport?

Why use momondo?

Why should I use momondo to find a flight deal to Cairns?

Can I find flights to Cairns with flexible booking policies on momondo?

How can momondo help me find flights to Cairns?

I’m not ready to book a flight to Cairns right now. Can momondo alert me if prices change?

An easier way to manage your Cairns trip

We make it super easy to schedule, organise and travel with friends or family. Trips is free – and available to use no matter where you book.

Get notified when prices go down

Daily price changes in your inbox - only with Price Alerts.

Find better results for your trip to Cairns

Popular Flights to Cairns

Popular routes according to searches in the past day on momondo