CNS → MELCairns to Melbourne

live

Direct flights from Cairns (CNS) to Melbourne (MEL): 21 nonstop departures observed each week across 3 airlines. 79% of the last 28 operated flights arrived within 15 minutes of schedule. The median arrival is on schedule. No cancellations were recorded across the 28 tracked flights. The nonstop covers 2,313 km, an estimated 3 hours 28 minutes in the air. Measured by Pro Flight Search from live flight boards at Cairns and Melbourne. Updated 21 September 2026 at 05:48 UTC.

CNS Cairns smooth · +10
MEL Melbourne smooth · +4
2,313 km · ~3h 28m est.
dep bank 07:00–21:4021x weekly
Runs mixed · 3 airlines · 21x weekly · nonstop
79% on time

of the last 28 operated CNS → MEL flights arrived within 15 minutes

Median arrival delay is +0 min. 0 of 28 tracked legs cancelled in the sample. Will a delayed flight be cancelled? →

Median arrival+0 minacross the last 28 operated legs
Flight time~3h 28mestimated from route distance
Weekly departures21x3 direct airlines on the leg
Cancelled0.0%recent route rate · 0 of 28

The week

scheduled departures · origin local time
06121824
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
Jetstar AirwaysQantas AirwaysVirgin Australia

Each mark is a scheduled departure at its origin-local time, observed operating in the last 7 days. Today is highlighted.

Who flies it

observed on the boards · 7 days
Jetstar AirwaysJQ81% on time

Flights JQ941 07:00 daily · JQ33 11:00 daily · JQ943 13:15 Tu We Sa · JQ945 14:30 daily

Qantas AirwaysQF

Flights QF703 12:35 daily · QF705 17:25 Mo

Virgin AustraliaVA67% on time

Flights VA1292 10:30 daily · VA1294 13:40 daily · VA1298 21:00 Mo Th Fr Sa Su

History

operated legs · board outcomes
09-21JQ33dep +0 → arr−27
09-21JQ941dep +0 → arr−16
09-21JQ945dep +35 → arr+20
09-21QF703dep +0 → arr−15
09-21VA1292dep +25 → arr+5
09-21VA1294dep +63 → arr+63
09-20JQ33dep +0 → arr−35
09-20JQ941dep +0 → arr−8
09-20JQ945dep +0 → arr+14
09-20JQ947dep +5 → arr−15
09-20JQ949dep +25 → arr+17
09-20QF703dep +0 → arr−1
09-20VA1292dep +30 → arr+22
09-20VA1294dep +40 → arr+33
09-20VA1298dep +15 → arr−8
09-19JQ33dep +0 → arr−17
09-19JQ941dep +0 → arr+4
09-19JQ943dep +0 → arr+7
09-19JQ945dep +0 → arr−15
09-19JQ947dep +40 → arr+36
09-19QF703dep +0 → arr−8
09-19VA1292dep +15 → arr+14
09-19VA1294dep +0 → arr−1
09-19VA1298dep +0 → arr+0
09-18JQ33departed+0
09-18JQ941departed+0
09-18JQ949arrived−24
09-18VA1298arrived+4

Actual board outcomes rather than schedules, paired departure and arrival per flight and day.

Full board history, day by day →

Airports right now

live boards
CNSCairns +10 min smooth 🌤 clear · SE 10 kt Full CNS delay board →
MELMelbourne +4 min smooth 🌤 clear · S 15 kt Full MEL delay board →

Weather lens

Current conditions put the pressure at MEL: 35% odds of a 15+ minute delay and around +7 min expected when it bites, measured from this route's own weather-matched delay history. See live delays → · Weather risk by airport →

How the Cairns to Melbourne route actually runs

Pro Flight Search records official board updates for nonstop CNS to MEL flights through the day: schedules, estimates, gate pushes and actual departures. The verdict above comes from operated flights, so it reflects what this route does rather than what the timetable promises.

Planning around a delay? Live airport delays · Weather delay risk map · Will a delayed flight be cancelled? · Do planes make up time in the air? · How we measure

Cite this data

Journalists, bloggers, and researchers may cite this page with attribution and a link to Pro Flight Search.

Suggested citation

Pro Flight Search — Cairns (CNS) to Melbourne (MEL) route reliability, measured from operated flights on official airport boards.

Canonical URL
https://proflightsearch.com/search-flights/CNS-MEL
How we measure this →

CNS to MEL questions

Is CNS–MEL running on time right now?

Smooth skies ahead. The departure side at CNS is the weaker end, route health score 89/100. The airports section above carries the live status and delay window at both ends.

Morning or evening flight on CNS–MEL?

Operators schedule morning departures around 07:00 and evening departures around 17:25 from CNS. Earlier flights typically land before destination-airport delays accumulate later in the day; check the MEL delay card to confirm conditions when you'd arrive.

How long is the flight from CNS to MEL?

Great-circle distance is 2,313 km. With typical jet cruise speed plus taxi, climb and descent, expect roughly 193–228 min gate-to-gate on this route.

How often does CNS–MEL fly?

3 carriers operate this route, around 60 flights a week between them. Compare carrier days and times in the airline list above.