---
title: "Auckland (AKL) to Cairns (CNS) flights: who flies it"
description: "Air New Zealand flies Auckland (AKL) to Cairns (CNS) nonstop about 4 times a week as NZ 161, scheduled at 6h 35m. See the full timetable and who flies it on 2LNR."
canonical: "https://2lnr.com/routes/akl-cns"
url: "https://2lnr.com/routes/akl-cns.md"
date_modified: "2026-10-18T05:10:47Z"
---

# Auckland to Cairns (AKL-CNS): nonstop flights and who flies them

Air New Zealand flies the AKL to CNS nonstop about 4 times a week. In the timetable below it flies as NZ 161, scheduled at 6h 35m for the 2,250 miles.

Schedule last confirmed October 18, 2026. Departure times come from 2LNR's schedule data; confirm with the airline before you book.

Updated October 23, 2026.

See AKL to CNS on the interactive map [Get started free](https://2lnr.com/login)

4

Flights a week, 4-week average

6h 35m

Scheduled flight time

2,250 mi

Nonstop distance

Free

To get started

## Auckland to Cairns flight schedule

Scheduled nonstop departures for AKL to CNS starting October 22, 2026, last checked against our schedule feed on October 18, 2026. Airlines retime and cancel flights, so confirm with the airline before you book.

Scheduled nonstop departures from Auckland (AKL) to Cairns (CNS)

| Date | Flight | Airline | Departs AKL | Arrives CNS | Duration | Aircraft |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Thu, Oct 22 | NZ 161 | Air New Zealand | 07:10 | 10:45 | 6h 35m | [Airbus A321neo family](https://2lnr.com/seatmaps/nz/a321neo.md) |
| Sat, Oct 24 | NZ 161 | Air New Zealand | 07:10 | 10:45 | 6h 35m | Airbus A321neo family |
| Mon, Oct 26 | NZ 161 | Air New Zealand | 07:10 | 10:45 | 6h 35m | Airbus A321neo family |
| Tue, Oct 27 | NZ 161 | Air New Zealand | 07:10 | 10:45 | 6h 35m | Airbus A321neo family |
| Thu, Oct 29 | NZ 161 | Air New Zealand | 07:10 | 10:45 | 6h 35m | Airbus A321neo family |
| Sat, Oct 31 | NZ 161 | Air New Zealand | 07:10 | 10:45 | 6h 35m | Airbus A321neo family |
| Mon, Nov 2 | NZ 161 | Air New Zealand | 07:10 | 10:45 | 6h 35m | Airbus A321neo family |

Showing all 7 scheduled AKL to CNS departures across 7 days with service, starting October 22, 2026. Later dates are on the interactive map.

Departure and arrival times are local at their own airport, so an arrival can fall on a different local date than the departure; the duration column is the true elapsed flying time. A dash means the airline hasn't filed that value in the schedule data we hold. Aircraft are the equipment the airline filed, named where the code pins down one type and shown as the family or the bare code where it doesn't. Swaps can happen up to departure.

See every AKL to CNS date on the interactive map

## Aircraft on the Auckland to Cairns nonstop

Air New Zealand flies the [Airbus A321neo family](https://2lnr.com/seatmaps/nz/a321neo.md) on every departure in the schedule table on this page. Each linked aircraft page shows where that airline schedules it. Airlines can swap aircraft up to departure.

## The full AKL to CNS nonstop schedule

This page carries the full AKL to CNS nonstop schedule, who operates each departure and how often it runs; the reverse direction is linked below.

### See the schedule

Who operates each AKL to CNS nonstop and how often it runs, from 2LNR's schedule data.

### Plan on the map

See AKL to CNS on the interactive route map, with schedules, connections, and route statistics.

## Airlines flying Auckland to Cairns nonstop

Carriers operating AKL to CNS nonstop in the current schedule.

- [Air New Zealand (NZ) route map](https://2lnr.com/routes/airlines/nz.md)\
  [The aircraft NZ flies](https://2lnr.com/seatmaps/nz.md)

See AKL to CNS on the interactive map →

## Frequently asked questions about AKL to CNS

**How long is the flight from Auckland (AKL) to Cairns (CNS)?**

NZ 161 is scheduled at 6h 35m from Auckland (AKL) to Cairns (CNS) on every departure in the schedule table on this page. The nonstop covers about 2,250 miles, and airlines adjust scheduled times by season, so confirm with the airline before you book.

**Which airlines fly nonstop from AKL to CNS?**

Air New Zealand is currently the only airline flying AKL to CNS nonstop. 2LNR doesn't show award or upgrade space for it on AKL to CNS, so this page carries the schedule rather than a space claim.

**How many flights a week are there from AKL to CNS?**

About 4 nonstop flights a week run between Auckland (AKL) and Cairns (CNS) in the current schedule, operated by Air New Zealand. Frequency shifts by season, and the schedule table on this page shows what is scheduled next.

**What time do flights from AKL to CNS depart?**

In the next 7 days with service, every scheduled AKL to CNS nonstop leaves at 07:10 local time at Auckland. The schedule table on this page lists each departure by date.

**Which flights operate AKL to CNS nonstop?**

Air New Zealand flies NZ 161 nonstop from Auckland (AKL) to Cairns (CNS), the only flight number in the schedule table on this page. The table lists each date with its departure and arrival times and aircraft.

**Does 2LNR show upgrade or award space on AKL to CNS?**

Not on this route: 2LNR doesn't show award or upgrade space for Air New Zealand on AKL to CNS. The page carries the full AKL to CNS nonstop schedule and who flies each departure, and the reverse direction is linked below.

Flying the other way? See [CNS to AKL nonstop flights](https://2lnr.com/routes/cns-akl.md).

Award seats rather than schedules? See [award availability by airline](https://2lnr.com/awards.md).

Looking beyond this route? See [every route from Auckland (AKL)](https://2lnr.com/routes/akl.md), or [every route from Cairns (CNS)](https://2lnr.com/routes/cns.md).

- [How to plan an upgrade by route](https://2lnr.com/guides/upgrade-strategy.md)

## See the full AKL to CNS nonstop schedule

Every scheduled departure on this route, with who flies it. 2LNR shows upgrade and award space by date on the carriers it tracks, the next 14 days free on every product and the full horizon on Pro.

[Get started free](https://2lnr.com/login)