SYD → CNSSydney to Cairns

live

Direct flights from Sydney (SYD) to Cairns (CNS): 21 nonstop departures observed each week across 3 airlines. 89% of the last 18 operated flights arrived within 15 minutes of schedule. The median arrival is on schedule. No cancellations were recorded across the 18 tracked flights. The nonstop covers 1,973 km, an estimated 3 hours 2 minutes in the air. Measured by Pro Flight Search from live flight boards at Sydney and Cairns. Updated 24 October 2026 at 10:38 UTC.

Today, SYD → CNS

Sat 24 Oct · local times
JQ956JetstarIn the air, 30 min late

Left SYD at 20:45, 30 min after its 20:15 slot.

Track JQ956 →
  1. 06:10 JQ950Jetstar Left 06:10 CNS 08:20In the air · scheduled landing
  2. 08:10 VA1413Virgin Australia Left 08:10 CNS 10:25In the air · scheduled landing
  3. 09:45 QF922Qantas Left 09:45 CNS 11:55In the air · scheduled landing
  4. 11:30 JQ952Jetstar Left 11:35 +5 ·
  5. 11:30 QF1818Qantas Left 11:30 CNS 13:40In the air · scheduled landing
  6. 12:40 VA1419Virgin Australia Left 12:40 CNS 14:55In the air · scheduled landing
  7. 15:15 JQ954Jetstar Left 15:15 CNS 17:25In the air · scheduled landing
  8. 20:15 JQ956Jetstar Left 20:45 +30 ·

Checked SYD board 21:38 · CNS board 15:48

SYD Sydney smooth · +0
CNS Cairns smooth · +7
1,973 km · ~3h 02m est.
dep bank 06:10–20:1521x weekly
Runs reliable · 3 airlines · 21x weekly · nonstop
89% on time

of the last 18 operated SYD → CNS flights arrived within 15 minutes

Median arrival delay is +0 min. 0 of 18 tracked legs cancelled in the sample. Will a delayed flight be cancelled? →

Median arrival+0 minacross the last 18 operated legs
Flight time~3h 02mestimated from route distance
Weekly departures21x3 direct airlines on the leg
Cancelled0.0%recent route rate · 0 of 18

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 AirwaysJQ78% on time

Flights JQ950 06:10 daily · JQ952 11:30 daily · JQ954 15:15 daily · JQ958 18:05 Mo We Fr

Qantas AirwaysQF

Flights QF922 09:45 daily · QF1878 19:20 Mo Th Su

Virgin AustraliaVA100% on time

Flights VA1413 08:10 daily · VA1419 12:40 daily · VA1423 15:10 Th Fr Su

History

operated legs · board outcomes
10-24JQ950dep +0 → arr+0
10-24JQ952departed+5
10-24JQ954dep +0 → arr+0
10-24JQ956departed+30
10-24QF1818dep +0 → arr+0
10-24QF922dep +0 → arr+0
10-24VA1413dep +0 → arr+0
10-24VA1419dep +0 → arr+0
10-23JQ950dep +0 → arr−7
10-23JQ952dep +15 → arr+27
10-23JQ954dep +0 → arr+10
10-23JQ956dep +45 → arr+0
10-23JQ958dep +90 → arr+0
10-23QF1818dep +10 → arr+9
10-23QF922dep +0 → arr−9
10-23VA1413dep +0 → arr−4
10-23VA1419dep +10 → arr+4
10-23VA1423dep −5 → arr−26

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
SYDSydney +0 min smooth 🌤 scattered clouds · NNE 14 kt Full SYD delay board →
CNSCairns +7 min smooth 🌤 few clouds · W 4 kt Full CNS delay board →

Weather lens

Current conditions put the pressure at SYD and CNS: 34% odds of a 15+ minute delay and around +4 min expected when it bites, measured from this route's own weather-matched delay history. See live delays → · Weather risk by airport →

How the Sydney to Cairns route actually runs

Pro Flight Search records official board updates for nonstop SYD to CNS 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 — Sydney (SYD) to Cairns (CNS) route reliability, measured from operated flights on official airport boards.

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

SYD to CNS questions

Is SYD–CNS running on time right now?

Smooth skies ahead. The arrival side at CNS is the weaker end, route health score 94/100. The airports section above carries the live status and delay window at both ends.

Morning or evening flight on SYD–CNS?

Operators schedule morning departures around 06:10 and evening departures around 18:05 from SYD. Earlier flights typically land before destination-airport delays accumulate later in the day; check the CNS delay card to confirm conditions when you'd arrive.

How long is the flight from SYD to CNS?

Great-circle distance is 1,973 km. With typical jet cruise speed plus taxi, climb and descent, expect roughly 169–199 min gate-to-gate on this route.

How often does SYD–CNS fly?

3 carriers operate this route, around 58 flights a week between them. Compare carrier days and times in the airline list above.