AKL - CNS

$321 Find Cheap Flights from Auckland to Cairns

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from Auckland to Cairns departing on 27/1. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel. Click the price to replicate the search for this deal.
1 adult
1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

KAYAK searches 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 Auckland 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 Auckland to Cairns, as well as popular online travel agencies
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Everything you should know

Cheapest return fare
$724
Overall average: $1,089
Jetstar
Wed 21/1Fri 30/1
AKL - CNS • 1 stop
Cheapest direct flights
$997
Air New Zealand
Sat 9/5Sat 16/5
AKL - CNS • Direct
When to book
4 weeks
in advance
Our data shows that travellers who book at least 4 weeks in advance save around 25% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to travel
October
Cheapest • 15% price drop
July
Most popular
Good to know
Good to know
+1
+1
Good to know
Good to know
+1
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KAYAK searches hundreds of sites at once to find you the best travel deals.
We hope you love your trip to Cairns!
Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from Auckland to Cairns (AKL-CNS)

 
Here are some of the best deals found on KAYAK recently from the most popular airlines for return flights from Auckland to Cairns that are departing in the next months. While these flights were available on KAYAK in the last 72 hours, prices and availability are subject to change and deals may expire.
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.

Recent return flight deals from Auckland to Cairns

Wed, 21 Jan - Fri, 30 Jan
Jetstar Logo
08:05 - 17:15AKL-CNS
12h 10m1 stop
Jetstar Logo
14:25 - 05:05CNS-AKL
11h 40m1 stop
$724Jetstar
Find Deal
Thu, 4 Dec - Tue, 9 Dec
Jetstar Logo
06:10 - 10:55AKL-CNS
31h 45m1 stop
Jetstar Logo
07:15 - 21:55CNS-AKL
11h 40m1 stop
$745Jetstar
Find Deal
Fri, 20 Mar - Tue, 24 Mar
Multiple Airlines Logo
14:50 - 11:35AKL-CNS
23h 45m1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
07:15 - 20:15CNS-AKL
10h 00m1 stop
$765Multiple Airlines
Find Deal
Thu, 4 Dec - Sat, 6 Dec
Jetstar Logo
06:10 - 10:55AKL-CNS
31h 45m1 stop
Jetstar Logo
14:35 - 14:40CNS-AKL
21h 05m1 stop
$767Jetstar
Find Deal
Thu, 19 Mar - Mon, 23 Mar
Jetstar Logo
20:55 - 10:55AKL-CNS
17h 00m1 stop
Jetstar Logo
06:00 - 17:35CNS-AKL
8h 35m1 stop
$770Jetstar
Find Deal
Thu, 15 Jan - Sat, 24 Jan
Jetstar Logo
07:15 - 20:50AKL-CNS
16h 35m1 stop
Jetstar Logo
09:45 - 00:15CNS-AKL
11h 30m1 stop
$806Jetstar
Find Deal
Thu, 15 Jan - Sat, 24 Jan
Jetstar Logo
07:15 - 20:50AKL-CNS
16h 35m1 stop
Jetstar Logo
14:25 - 05:05CNS-AKL
11h 40m1 stop
$815Jetstar
Find Deal
Thu, 4 Dec - Thu, 11 Dec
Jetstar Logo
06:10 - 10:55AKL-CNS
31h 45m1 stop
Jetstar Logo
07:15 - 21:55CNS-AKL
11h 40m1 stop
$840Jetstar
Find Deal
Tue, 31 Mar - Wed, 8 Apr
Jetstar Logo
07:00 - 18:45AKL-CNS
14h 45m1 stop
Jetstar Logo
09:40 - 23:35CNS-AKL
11h 55m1 stop
$845Jetstar
Find Deal
Thu, 15 Jan - Sat, 24 Jan
Jetstar Logo
07:15 - 20:50AKL-CNS
16h 35m1 stop
Jetstar Logo
19:30 - 14:45CNS-AKL
16h 15m2 stops
$890Jetstar
Find Deal
Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for Auckland to Cairns flights

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

What’s the cheapest day of the week to fly from Auckland to Cairns?

The average price of all round-trip flights from Auckland to Cairns clicked on KAYAK for each day over the last 12 months.

Your flight ticket price will generally be cheaper if you fly to Cairns on a Tuesday and more expensive on a Saturday. On your return trip to Auckland, you should consider flying back on a Friday, and avoid Tuesdays for better deals.

What is the cheapest month to fly from Auckland to Cairns?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights from Auckland 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 Auckland to Cairns is October, where tickets cost $861 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are December and January, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $1,184 and $1,089 respectively.

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

To calculate weekly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each week before departure over the last year for round-trip flights from Auckland to Cairns, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the average of all the values for each week.

To get a below average price on the flight from Auckland to Cairns, you should book around 4 weeks before departure, which saves you about 25% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 23 weeks before departure.

Good to know

Low seasonJanuary
Cheapest flight$321
Best time to beat the crowds but there is an average 7% increase in price.
Most popular time to fly (2% more expensive on average)
Flight from Auckland to Cairns

When to book flights from Auckland to Cairns

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from Auckland 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 flights from Auckland to Cairns

  • What is the cheapest flight from Auckland to Cairns?

    In the last 3 days, the lowest price for a flight from Auckland to Cairns was $319 for a one-way ticket and $724 for a return.

  • Which airports will I be using when flying from Auckland to Cairns?

    Auckland airport is called Auckland Intl and the only airport in Cairns is Cairns.

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

    The Airbus A321neo is the aircraft model that flies most regularly on the Auckland to Cairns flight route.

  • Which airline alliances offer flights from Auckland to Cairns?

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

  • Which is the best airline for flights from Auckland to Cairns, Emirates or Air New Zealand?

    The two airlines most popular with KAYAK users for flights from Auckland to Cairns are Emirates and Air New Zealand. With an average price for the route of $1,254 and an overall rating of 8.1, Emirates is the most popular choice. Air New Zealand is also a great choice for the route, with an average price of $1,065 and an overall rating of 8.0.

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from Auckland 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 Auckland to Cairns.

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

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

  • What is the Hacker Fare option on flights from Auckland 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 Auckland with another airline.

  • What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight from Auckland 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 Auckland up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

KAYAK’s top tips for finding a cheap flight from Auckland to Cairns

  • Looking for a cheap flight? 25% of our users found flights on this route for $528 or less one-way and $1,054 or less round-trip.

Reviews of the top 4 airlines flying from Auckland to Cairns

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from Auckland 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 Auckland 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.
8.1
EmiratesOverall score based on 3421 reviews
8.1Boarding
8.2Entertainment
8.3Crew
7.9Food
8.0Comfort
Airline reviews

Wonderful Premium Economy experience. Felt as good as Business Class for food and entertainment. Comfortable sleeping too

10.0 ExcellentRoss, Oct 2025DXB - MEL
Read more Emirates reviews

Wonderful Premium Economy experience. Felt as good as Business Class for food and entertainment. Comfortable sleeping too

No kids provided. Instead we were told to have contacted the airline that we have kids and require kids meals. We were not the only ones who inquired about kids meals. It’s odd. Emirates and other airlines give kids meals as standard and before the adult food comes out. The rice in our meals was gluggy and under cooked. The chicken was also raw. Sadly not the best experience with Finn Air. The hostesses tried to compensate with the snacks and drinks but missed the mark by a long way. Especially when paying Emirates/Qantas prices

the seat is quite narrow compared to others. entertainment and food were very good

Can’t complain Only downside was the Kiosk passport check and customs clearance at Melbourne. When will they improve that service🤔

Very pleasant.The crews are very nice.Food were excellent.

Very pleasant.The crews are very helpful.Food are very good.

Emirates is superb service. The A380 was very comfortable. The cabin crew is really helpful

Everything I was good except food quality is very poor

Overall I was quite pleased with the experience; the cleanliness; the polite and attentiveness of the cabin crew; and the delicious food options.

Overall was a good experience and this particular flight the crew were great too at least in business class. It’s not always the case with flydubai. Few things would make me think twice in the future on this route. 1. The arrival into T3 might sound good but it is a real pain as it takes almost 30 mins to get to terminal on the bus as the aircraft still park at T2. The bag takes even longer . If they just let us off at T2, I’d be home within 30 mins of walking off the plane. Instead it takes 1.5 hours. 2. Due to the timing, the very tiny lounge in Penang is so crowded because half the lounge is closed for Qatar crew. Hardly anywhere to sit. 3. Flydubai app and site has a long way to go and using it is very unpleasant.

Great except paying $240 usd for 2 pounds over on a checked luggage. Outrageous.

Nice friendly staff and crew. Love the 787 flight. Get meals and lots of drinks!

Service was excellent and they’re very helpful and nice

Check in crew member was very helpful, nice and excellent service👍

Aircon set too high so VERY warm and VERY uncomfortable.

Not a comfortable trip, the seats are not good, and they look old.

Not entirely positive. It’s frustrating that everything is done through the united app. One of our flight attendants on our trip from San Francisco to MSP continually had trouble hearing people so she flipped her hair into people’s faces

I flew United from San Francisco to Auckland. My connecting flight from Auckland to Christchurch was canceled with no explanation. I was finally told the cancellation was due to fog. Even though it was clear when we landed. I am from San Francisco, I know what fog is! And I didn't see any fog. I was told the next available flight was 7 hours later. Unacceptable, they should have had a flight ready to go as soon as it was deemed safe to take off.

Our original flight was cancelled from SFO to AKL on 6/16/25. So we had to stay overnight at a hotel after a 12-hour layover plus 3-hour delay before the cancellation. Then had to fly to LA and then to AKL the following day losing an entire day of our vacation in NZ, that we can never get back.

Two hours was not enough time to transition from the international to domestic terminal. You have to go through customs, a biological hazard check, gather your luggage, take a bus to the domestic terminal and recheck your luggage. The bus was slow and crowded and the lines to recheck your bags were very long. We missed our connecting flight. Initially, the Air New Zealand officials were not helpful at all in helping to get us on another flight. Told us we would have to buy another ticket for a flight 11 hours later. Found another agent that was more helpful. He helped arrange to get us on standby for another flight three hours later. Had to ride in jump seats next to the flight attendants, but at least we eventually got to out destination.

Flight was 2.5 hours late leaving. We spent 50 minutes of that sitting on the plane with no explanation. They did reduce the time in the air so we arrived a little less late which was something. The cheese and crackers were okay but the wine was terrible.

Couldn't access entertainment on app as said in an email

Excellent as always, I won't fly to Australia, and back to the US on any other airline. The flight crew is always top notch, and have a way to make one feel extra special. Thank you for your service, I would rate Qantas Airways a 10+.

After already paying for excess luggage prior to flight, i was advised AT check in that i had to pay $816 or forfeit my flight! The lady at the counter was SO rude and had already started offboarding me when i said i would pay it after asking her three times for the exact amount! Have lodged a formal complaint yet heard nothing. Will not ever travel via Qantas again

they ran out of fruit for breakfast and so I just had a yogurt instead. other than that the flight was good

A few more inches of legroom is all i ask

One of the best Qantas business flights I've had. Quality product

Business class points redemption - good value for points paid, dubious value if out of your own pocket, domestic class business product okay for this length of flight. The flight left and arrived on time, crew were good, aircraft was a bit old and tired, but still miles ahead of their competitors in Virgin and Jetstar.

Airline running better than post Covid, proper boarding process now implemented, some aircraft feeling a bit old and tired, crew fine, online experience better.

Five hour flight instead of four hours due to westerly headwinds which wasn’t the fault of Qantas !

Delayed twice. Poor communication and people made to change gates too often.

Very disappointed with my recent Jetstar experience. Firstly, it was extremely frustrating that we had to pay extra for basic things like in-flight entertainment and meals. Other airlines provide these essentials even with standard tickets, but Jetstar offered no comfort or amenities without additional charges. For a long international journey, this made the experience very uncomfortable. On top of that, there was a delay on our flight from Melbourne to Bangkok due to parts replacement, which was already inconvenient. But the biggest issue was the massive 5 hours and 15 minutes delay on our return flight, which completely disrupted our plans, caused unnecessary stress, and impacted both our time and health. Jetstar provided vouchers, but they were not nearly sufficient to cover proper meals or any meaningful service at Bangkok Airport. After such a long delay, this felt extremely inadequate and did not compensate for the inconvenience we faced. Overall, this has been one of my worst travel experiences. I am extremely disappointed and will not be booking with Jetstar in the future. I strongly request Jetstar to provide additional compensation for the significant delays and the discomfort we had to go through.

Excellent help with Wife needing disability access at Brisbane airport

The flight was delayed by 2 hours but the Jetstar crew were fantastic.

Late leaving and desintuon board showed ‘gate closed’ when they hadn’t even commenced boarding!

Flight was delayed more than 1.5 hours. Gate changed multiple times

The good thing is that the flight got us from Darwin to Brisbane. However, it would have to be the most uncomfortable flight I have ever taken and if I can possibly avoid flying Jetstar again, I will.

I was treated poorly in Dunedin by check in crew, then my bag was lost in Auckland. Never again.

no announcement about why we where delayed which is very poor

Overall good trip I find seats a bit hard. We were waiting on board for about an hour for 2 passengers with some document issue. This main our arrival late for our pickup person.

Everything you need to know for your flight from Auckland to Cairns

Information on your arrival and departure airports