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Flights from Darwin to Cairns

Hi, I've summed up all the key info for Darwin to Cairns flights

Cheapest one-way

US$ 183
Jetstar Airways Sat, Nov 7

51% below next 30d avg. (US$371)

Cheapest round-trip

US$ 399
Qantas Airways Fri, Oct 16

39% below next 30d avg. (US$659)

When to fly

November Cheapest month
July Peak month

Fastest flight

3h 30m Avg: 3h 10m

Recommended airlines

With a lowest one-way fare of US$183 , travelers can expect an average price of US$371 for upcoming trips, while round-trip tickets start at US$399 . Flights typically take around 3h 10m , but the fastest nonstop option completes the journey in just 3h 30m minutes. There are 23 flights weekly on this route. You can land at any one of the following hubs in Cairns: Cairns Airport (CNS) . Flying from Darwin International Airport to Cairns Airport (DRW-CNS) is by far the most common option on this route. To secure the best rates, booking 40 days in advance is recommended, and the cheapest travel days are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday .

Updated 3d ago · This content is an AI-powered summary based on Trip.com data. Prices and availability are subject to change. Please refer to actual prices, availability, and travel conditions.

Explore the cheapest one-way and round-trip flights from Darwin to Cairns over the next 90 days, with one-way fares from US$183 and round-trip from US$399. Based on Trip.com's latest 7-day flight data.

      • Cheapest nonstop
        DRW 17:35
        2h 30m
        Nonstop
        CNS 20:35
        Darwin - Cairns | Fri, Oct 16 | Qantas Airways
        CNS 10:45
        2h 40m
        Nonstop
        DRW 12:55
        Cairns - Darwin | Wed, Oct 21 | Qantas Airways
        US$399 US$445
        10% off
        10% off
        US$445 US$399
      • DRW 07:05
        2h 30m
        Nonstop
        CNS 10:05
        Darwin - Cairns | Wed, Oct 14 | Qantas Airways
        CNS 10:45
        2h 40m
        Nonstop
        DRW 12:55
        Cairns - Darwin | Mon, Oct 19 | Qantas Airways
        US$399 US$445
        10% off
        10% off
        US$445 US$399
      • DRW 17:35
        2h 30m
        Nonstop
        CNS 20:35
        Darwin - Cairns | Mon, Oct 12 | Qantas Airways
        CNS 10:45
        2h 40m
        Nonstop
        DRW 12:55
        Cairns - Darwin | Sat, Oct 17 | Qantas Airways
        US$399 US$445
        10% off
        10% off
        US$445 US$399
      • DRW 07:00
        2h 35m
        Nonstop
        CNS 10:05
        Darwin - Cairns | Mon, Nov 2 | Qantas Airways
        CNS 10:45
        2h 35m
        Nonstop
        DRW 12:50
        Cairns - Darwin | Mon, Nov 9 | Qantas Airways
        US$399
        10% off
        US$445 US$399
      • DRW 07:00
        2h 35m
        Nonstop
        CNS 10:05
        Darwin - Cairns | Tue, Nov 3 | Qantas Airways
        CNS 10:45
        2h 35m
        Nonstop
        DRW 12:50
        Cairns - Darwin | Mon, Nov 9 | Qantas Airways
        US$399
        10% off
        US$445 US$399
      • DRW 07:00
        2h 35m
        Nonstop
        CNS 10:05
        Darwin - Cairns | Wed, Nov 11 | Qantas Airways
        CNS 10:45
        2h 35m
        Nonstop
        DRW 12:50
        Cairns - Darwin | Tue, Nov 17 | Qantas Airways
        US$399
        10% off
        US$445 US$399
      • DRW 07:00
        2h 35m
        Nonstop
        CNS 10:05
        Darwin - Cairns | Tue, Oct 27 | Qantas Airways
        CNS 10:45
        2h 35m
        Nonstop
        DRW 12:50
        Cairns - Darwin | Tue, Nov 3 | Qantas Airways
        US$399
        10% off
        US$445 US$399
      • DRW 07:00
        2h 35m
        Nonstop
        CNS 10:05
        Darwin - Cairns | Wed, Oct 28 | Qantas Airways
        CNS 10:45
        2h 35m
        Nonstop
        DRW 12:50
        Cairns - Darwin | Wed, Nov 4 | Qantas Airways
        US$399
        10% off
        US$445 US$399
      • DRW 07:00
        2h 35m
        Nonstop
        CNS 10:05
        Darwin - Cairns | Fri, Oct 30 | Qantas Airways
        CNS 10:45
        2h 35m
        Nonstop
        DRW 12:50
        Cairns - Darwin | Tue, Nov 3 | Qantas Airways
        US$399
        10% off
        US$445 US$399
      • DRW 08:00
        3h 30m
        Nonstop
        CNS 12:00
        Darwin - Cairns | Mon, Nov 2 | Airnorth
        CNS 10:45
        2h 35m
        Nonstop
        DRW 12:50
        Cairns - Darwin | Mon, Nov 9 | Qantas Airways
        US$413
        7% off
        US$445 US$413
      • DRW 13:00
        17h 25m
        1 stop
        CNS 14:00
        Darwin - Cairns | Mon, Sep 14 | Normal Airline
        CNS 15:00
        6h
        Nonstop
        DRW 16:00
        Cairns - Darwin | Wed, Sep 16 | Normal Airline
        More cheap flights
        More cheap flights
      • Cheapest nonstop
        DRW 08:35
        3h 30m
        Nonstop
        CNS 12:35
        Darwin - Cairns | Tue, Sep 15 | Airnorth
        US$218 US$242
        10% off
        10% off
        US$242 US$218
      • DRW 08:00
        3h 30m
        Nonstop
        CNS 12:00
        Darwin - Cairns | Wed, Sep 16 | Airnorth
        US$224 US$242
        7% off
        7% off
        US$242 US$224
      • DRW 19:05
        13h 25m
        1 stop
        CNS 09:00
        Darwin - Cairns | Sat, Nov 7 | Jetstar Airways
        US$183 US$242
        24% off
        24% off
        US$242 US$183
      • DRW 19:05
        27h 30m
        1 stop
        CNS 23:05
        Darwin - Cairns | Sun, Nov 8 | Jetstar Airways
        US$212
        12% off
        US$242 US$212
      • DRW 19:05
        15h 45m
        1 stop
        CNS 11:20
        Darwin - Cairns | Mon, Nov 2 | Jetstar Airways
        US$217
        10% off
        US$242 US$217
      • DRW 19:05
        21h 40m
        1 stop
        CNS 17:15
        Darwin - Cairns | Mon, Oct 26 | Jetstar Airways
        US$219
        10% off
        US$242 US$219
      • DRW 14:20
        18h 10m
        1 stop
        CNS 09:00
        Darwin - Cairns | Sat, Nov 7 | Virgin Australia
        US$223
        8% off
        US$242 US$223
      • DRW 05:45
        5h 45m
        1 stop
        CNS 12:00
        Darwin - Cairns | Fri, Sep 25 | Airnorth
        US$224
        7% off
        US$242 US$224
      • DRW 01:15
        19h 15m
        1 stop
        CNS 21:00
        Darwin - Cairns | Sat, Oct 17 | Jetstar Airways
        US$224
        7% off
        US$242 US$224
      • DRW 19:05
        13h 25m
        1 stop
        CNS 09:00
        Darwin - Cairns | Sat, Oct 31 | Jetstar Airways
        US$225
        7% off
        US$242 US$225
      • DRW 13:00
        17h 25m
        1 stop
        CNS 14:00
        Darwin - Cairns | Mon, Sep 14 | Normal Airline
        More cheap flights
        More cheap flights

Flight.News
Flights from Darwin to Cairns operate an average of 3 times per day over the past 7 days, with a 90.9% on-time departure rate and a 90.9% on-time arrival rate.

Which airlines are the most popular for Darwin to Cairns flights?

You can choose from 2 airlines that fly from Darwin to Cairns, including Qantas Airways, Airnorth, Jetstar Airways has lowest fares on this route.
Qantas Airways logo Qantas Airways
Airnorth logo Airnorth
Airlines are determined based on actual purchased flight tickets from Darwin to Cairns according to previous 12 months data from Trip.com.

Darwin to Cairns Flight Information

The distance between Darwin and Cairns is about 1,690.3 km. The average flying time from Darwin to Cairns is around 3 hours 10 minutes. Based on Trip.com's latest data, travel demand is highest in July. The off-season for travel is November.

Cheapest one-way flight price US$183
Cheapest return ticket price US$399
Cheapest month November
Peak season for travel July
Flight distance 1,690.3 km
Average flight time 3 hours 10 minutes
Popular airline Qantas Airways
Frequency ～8/week
Flight statistics for the Darwin–Cairns route are based on aggregated booking data from Trip.com over the past 12 months.

Trip.com Price Trends on Flights from Darwin to Cairns

Which month has the cheapest one-way flights from Darwin to Cairns?

Average monthly one-way flight prices from Darwin to Cairns, based on bookings made by Trip.com users over the past 12 months.

Based on Trip.com’s data, the cheapest month for flights from Darwin to Cairns is January, with an average price of US$259; while the month with the highest flight price is usually June, with an average price of up to US$465.

US$465
US$362
US$259
US$156
    Cheapest
  • US$434
    Sep
  • US$350
    Oct
  • US$310
    Nov
  • US$402
    Dec
  • US$259
    Jan
  • US$322
    Feb
  • US$311
    Mar
  • US$375
    Apr
  • US$358
    May
  • US$465
    Jun
  • US$335
    Jul
  • US$374
    Aug

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What are the cheapest flights from Darwin to Cairns (DRW-CNS)?

    Based on Trip.com data, Jetstar Airways offers one-way fares as low as US$183 on Cheapest nonstop routes (e.g. DRW to CNS on Sat, Nov 7), while Qantas Airways offers Cheapest nonstop round-trips from US$399 departing on Fri, Oct 16 and returning on Wed, Oct 21.
  • At the moment, you can catch a nonstop flight from Darwin to Cairns with the following airlines, including: Qantas Airways Selected airlines are based on historical data collected from flight bookings users made on Trip.com within the last 90 days.
  • It takes about 3 hours 10 minutes to fly from Darwin to Cairns.
  • By analyzing data from all airlines on the Trip.com flight calendar, it looks like the best time to book a flight from Darwin to Cairns is around 40 days (6 weeks) in advance, and the best time to fly is usually on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday. Tuesday typically offers the cheapest flights for departure, while Saturday offers the best return deals.
  • Based on Trip.com data in the past 4 weeks, there is 23 flight per week flying from Darwin to Cairns. You can check the weekly schedule for popular airlines on this route below: Qantas Airways: S/M/T/W/T/F/S -- QF1889 (07:07) Qantas Airways: -/M/-/W/-/F/S -- QF8665 (08:33) Airnorth: -/M/-/W/-/F/S -- TL160 (08:33)
  • To find best deals on flights from Darwin to Cairns, you can use various tools on Trip.com:
    · Be flexible with your travel dates to get the cheapest flight deal. Now the cheapest flight deal is on Sat, Nov 7, with one-way flights priced at just US$183.
    · Compare airlines strategically. Budget carriers often provide the lowest base fares, while we found the most affordable airline currently operating on this route is Airnorth.
    · Set up price alerts to easily monitor ticket prices without having to check every day.
    · Check Trip.com flight deals and promo codes frequently.
    · Avoid peak season unless you book very early. It seems the peak season for Cairns travel is around July.
    · Get exclusive promo codes for Trip.com app users.
  • The cheapest months to fly from Darwin to Cairns is November, when demand for travel is lower.
  • After crunching the numbers on our September flight calendar, it's currently cheapest to fly from Darwin to Cairns on September 23, 2026 with Airnorth, with prices starting at US$214.
  • You can land at any one of the following hubs in Cairns: Cairns Airport (CNS). Flying from Darwin International Airport to Cairns Airport (DRW-CNS) is by far the most common option on this route.
  • The time difference between Cairns and Darwin is 0m.
  • Tickets can only be changed or canceled if permitted by airline policy. To submit a change or cancellation request, go to the flight bookings page, select the option to change or cancel your booking, choose the relevant passengers and segment, and submit a request. Please note that additional charges may apply according to the airline ticket policy. However, if the flight has been rescheduled and you would like to change or cancel your ticket, you can submit an involuntary cancellation request. For more details about change and cancellation policies, please check the customer support pages.
  • Based on Trip.com data for flights departing in the next 30 days, the average one-way fare from Darwin to Cairns is US$371. Fares vary by travel date, airline and availability.
  • Based on Trip.com data for travel in the next 30 days, the average round-trip fare from Darwin to Cairns is US$659. The final price depends on the outbound and return dates, airline and fare conditions.
  • Enter Darwin and Cairns, choose your travel dates and passengers, then compare flights by price, duration and baggage. Select a fare, review the change and cancellation rules, enter traveler details and complete payment to receive your confirmation.
  • Airnorthare the most popular budget airlines flying from Darwin to Cairns. Check baggage, seat and payment fees before comparing the final price.

Trip.com Airline Insights on Flights from Darwin to Cairns

Which airline offers the cheapest direct flights from Darwin to Cairns?

Data is based on the average price of all nonstop flights from Darwin to Cairns on Trip.com over the past 12 months.

Based on Trip.com’s data from the past 12 months, Jetstar Airways provides the lowest-priced direct flights from Darwin to Cairns, with fares starting at US$294.

US$260
US$294
US$328
US$362
US$396
Jetstar Airways
US$294
Jetstar Airways
Virgin Australia
US$313
Virgin Australia
Qantas Airways
US$395
Qantas Airways
Airnorth
US$396
Airnorth

How many flights fly from Darwin to Cairns daily?

The data is based on the flight numbers for each day of the week from Darwin to Cairns within the Trip.com database over the past month.

Based on the past month's historical data from Trip.com, the number of flights from Darwin to Cairns is the highest on Friday and the lowest on Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday.

18
15
12
9
Highest
16
Mon
12
Tue
12
Wed
12
Thu
18
Fri
15
Sat
13
Sun

Explore More Popular Flights

Note: Prices shown on this page are the estimated lowest prices found in the last 24 hours and include all taxes and fees.

Book with no extra fees

Prices displayed on this page are all-inclusive (incl. taxes, fuel surcharges, Civil Aviation Development Fund, etc.), and all fees are clearly shown before you pay. Charges for checked baggage, onboard meals, Wi‑Fi, and other optional services are also included where applicable in the flight cards.

Real-time pricing updates

Prices, availability, and travel details on this page have been updated within the last 24 hours, and for many routes are refreshed in real time. The more popular the route, the more accurate and up-to-date the data.

Change & Cancellation Policy

Trip.com shows the change and cancellation rules for each ticket during the booking process, including all related fees and conditions. Please refer to the following scenarios:
Voluntary cancellation/change:
To request a change or cancellation, go to the flight bookings page, select the option to change or cancel your booking, choose the relevant passengers and flight segment, and submit your request. Please note that additional charges may apply based on the airline’s fare rules.
Cancellation/change due to a flight schedule change:
If your flight has been rescheduled and you would like to change or cancel your ticket, you can submit an involuntary cancellation request. For full details of change and cancellation policies, please refer to the customer support pages.