--- title: "Cairns (CNS) to Melbourne (MEL) flights: who flies it" description: "Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia fly nonstop from CNS to MEL, about 57 flights a week, covering 1,438 miles. See award seats by date on 2LNR, the next 14 days free." canonical: "https://2lnr.com/routes/cns-mel" url: "https://2lnr.com/routes/cns-mel.md" date_modified: "2026-10-25T05:37:10Z" --- # Cairns to Melbourne (CNS-MEL): nonstop flights and award space Jetstar, Virgin Australia, and Qantas fly nonstop between Cairns (CNS) and Melbourne (MEL), roughly 57 times a week. The timetable below shows the nonstop scheduled at 2h 30m to 3h 30m for the 1,438 miles. 2LNR tracks award seats on Qantas across every CNS to MEL date, so you can see whether a seat exists before you move points. Schedule last confirmed October 25, 2026. Departure times come from 2LNR's schedule data; confirm with the airline before you book. Updated October 28, 2026. See CNS to MEL on the interactive map [Get started free](https://2lnr.com/login) 57 Flights a week, 4-week average 2h 30m to 3h 30m Scheduled flight time 1,438 mi Nonstop distance Free To get started ## Cairns to Melbourne flight schedule Scheduled nonstop departures for CNS to MEL starting October 28, 2026, last checked against our schedule feed on October 25, 2026. Airlines retime and cancel flights, so confirm with the airline before you book. Scheduled nonstop departures from Cairns (CNS) to Melbourne (MEL) | Date | Flight | Airline | Departs CNS | Arrives MEL | Duration | Aircraft | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Wed, Oct 28 | JQ 941 | Jetstar | 07:00 | 10:30 | 2h 30m | [Airbus A320](https://2lnr.com/seatmaps/jq/a320.md) | | Wed, Oct 28 | JQ 33 | Jetstar | 09:45 | 14:15 | 3h 30m | [Airbus A321neo family](https://2lnr.com/seatmaps/jq/a321neo.md) | | Wed, Oct 28 | JQ 947 | Jetstar | 10:15 | 14:45 | 3h 30m | Airbus A320 | | Wed, Oct 28 | QF 703 | Qantas | 11:40 | 16:05 | 3h 25m | [Boeing 737-800](https://2lnr.com/seatmaps/qf/737-800.md) | | Wed, Oct 28 | VA 1292 | Virgin Australia | 11:45 | 16:10 | 3h 25m | [Boeing 737-800](https://2lnr.com/seatmaps/va/737-800.md) | | Wed, Oct 28 | JQ 945 | Jetstar | 14:40 | 19:10 | 3h 30m | Airbus A320 | | Wed, Oct 28 | JQ 943 | Jetstar | 19:20 | 23:45 | 3h 25m | Airbus A320 | | Wed, Oct 28 | VA 1298 | Virgin Australia | 19:50 | 00:15 | 3h 25m | Boeing 737-800 | | Wed, Oct 28 | VA 1302 | Virgin Australia | 23:55 | 04:20 | 3h 25m | [Boeing 737-700](https://2lnr.com/seatmaps/va/737-700.md) | | Thu, Oct 29 | JQ 941 | Jetstar | 07:45 | 12:15 | 3h 30m | Airbus A320 | | Thu, Oct 29 | JQ 33 | Jetstar | 09:45 | 14:15 | 3h 30m | Airbus A321neo family | | Thu, Oct 29 | QF 703 | Qantas | 11:40 | 16:05 | 3h 25m | Boeing 737-800 | | Thu, Oct 29 | VA 1292 | Virgin Australia | 11:45 | 16:10 | 3h 25m | [Boeing 737 MAX 8](https://2lnr.com/seatmaps/va/737-max-8.md) | | Thu, Oct 29 | JQ 945 | Jetstar | 14:40 | 19:10 | 3h 30m | Airbus A320 | | Thu, Oct 29 | JQ 943 | Jetstar | 19:20 | 23:45 | 3h 25m | Airbus A320 | | Thu, Oct 29 | VA 1298 | Virgin Australia | 19:50 | 00:15 | 3h 25m | Boeing 737-800 | | Thu, Oct 29 | VA 1302 | Virgin Australia | 23:55 | 04:20 | 3h 25m | Boeing 737-700 | | Fri, Oct 30 | JQ 33 | Jetstar | 09:45 | 14:15 | 3h 30m | Airbus A321neo family | | Fri, Oct 30 | JQ 947 | Jetstar | 10:15 | 14:45 | 3h 30m | Airbus A320 | | Fri, Oct 30 | QF 703 | Qantas | 11:40 | 16:05 | 3h 25m | Boeing 737-800 | | Fri, Oct 30 | VA 1292 | Virgin Australia | 11:45 | 16:10 | 3h 25m | Boeing 737 MAX 8 | | Fri, Oct 30 | JQ 945 | Jetstar | 14:40 | 19:10 | 3h 30m | Airbus A320 | | Fri, Oct 30 | JQ 943 | Jetstar | 19:20 | 23:45 | 3h 25m | Airbus A320 | | Fri, Oct 30 | VA 1298 | Virgin Australia | 19:50 | 00:15 | 3h 25m | Boeing 737-800 | | Fri, Oct 30 | VA 1302 | Virgin Australia | 23:55 | 04:20 | 3h 25m | Boeing 737-700 | | Sat, Oct 31 | JQ 941 | Jetstar | 07:00 | 10:30 | 2h 30m | Airbus A320 | | Sat, Oct 31 | JQ 33 | Jetstar | 09:45 | 14:15 | 3h 30m | Airbus A321neo family | | Sat, Oct 31 | JQ 947 | Jetstar | 10:15 | 14:45 | 3h 30m | Airbus A320 | | Sat, Oct 31 | QF 703 | Qantas | 11:40 | 16:05 | 3h 25m | Boeing 737-800 | | Sat, Oct 31 | VA 1292 | Virgin Australia | 11:45 | 16:10 | 3h 25m | Boeing 737 MAX 8 | | Sat, Oct 31 | JQ 945 | Jetstar | 14:40 | 19:10 | 3h 30m | Airbus A320 | | Sat, Oct 31 | JQ 943 | Jetstar | 19:20 | 23:45 | 3h 25m | Airbus A320 | | Sat, Oct 31 | VA 1298 | Virgin Australia | 19:50 | 00:15 | 3h 25m | Boeing 737-700 | | Sun, Nov 1 | JQ 941 | Jetstar | 07:00 | 10:30 | 2h 30m | Airbus A320 | | Sun, Nov 1 | JQ 33 | Jetstar | 09:45 | 14:15 | 3h 30m | Airbus A321neo family | | Sun, Nov 1 | QF 703 | Qantas | 11:40 | 16:05 | 3h 25m | Boeing 737-800 | | Sun, Nov 1 | VA 1292 | Virgin Australia | 11:45 | 16:10 | 3h 25m | Boeing 737 MAX 8 | | Sun, Nov 1 | JQ 945 | Jetstar | 14:40 | 19:10 | 3h 30m | Airbus A320 | | Sun, Nov 1 | JQ 943 | Jetstar | 19:20 | 23:45 | 3h 25m | Airbus A321neo family | | Sun, Nov 1 | VA 1298 | Virgin Australia | 19:50 | 00:15 | 3h 25m | Boeing 737-700 | Showing the first 40 of 58 scheduled CNS to MEL departures across 7 days with service, starting October 28, 2026. Every remaining date is 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 CNS to MEL date on the interactive map ## Aircraft on the Cairns to Melbourne nonstop In the schedule table on this page, Jetstar flies the [Airbus A320](https://2lnr.com/seatmaps/jq/a320.md) and the [Airbus A321neo family](https://2lnr.com/seatmaps/jq/a321neo.md). Virgin Australia flies the [Boeing 737-700](https://2lnr.com/seatmaps/va/737-700.md), the [Boeing 737-800](https://2lnr.com/seatmaps/va/737-800.md), and the [Boeing 737 MAX 8](https://2lnr.com/seatmaps/va/737-max-8.md). Qantas flies the [Boeing 737-800](https://2lnr.com/seatmaps/qf/737-800.md). Each linked aircraft page shows where that airline schedules it. Airlines can swap aircraft up to departure. ## Award seats on CNS to MEL departures 2LNR tracks award seats on Qantas, date by date. Open the calendar for Cairns to Melbourne to see whether a seat exists before you move points, the next 14 days free on every product and the full horizon on Pro. Qantas award space was open on none of the 14 Cairns to Melbourne departure dates from October 26 to November 8 that 2LNR checked in the 7 days to October 26, 2026. ### See real availability Award seats by date on the CNS to MEL departures 2LNR tracks, checked against live inventory so you know what's open before you book. ### Set an alert Premium inventory turns over fast. Watch this route on Pro and 2LNR notifies you when space appears on a date you're tracking. ### Plan on the map See CNS to MEL on the interactive route map, with schedules, connections, and route statistics. ## Airlines flying Cairns to Melbourne nonstop Carriers operating CNS to MEL nonstop in the current schedule. Where 2LNR tracks the carrier, its departures show award space by date. - [Jetstar (JQ) route map](https://2lnr.com/routes/airlines/jq.md)\ [The aircraft JQ flies](https://2lnr.com/seatmaps/jq.md) - [Virgin Australia (VA) route map](https://2lnr.com/routes/airlines/va.md)\ [The aircraft VA flies](https://2lnr.com/seatmaps/va.md) - [Qantas (QF) route map](https://2lnr.com/routes/airlines/qf.md)\ [The aircraft QF flies](https://2lnr.com/seatmaps/qf.md) See CNS to MEL on the interactive map → ## Frequently asked questions about CNS to MEL **How long is the flight from Cairns (CNS) to Melbourne (MEL)?** Scheduled flight times from Cairns (CNS) to Melbourne (MEL) run from 2h 30m to 3h 30m across the departures in the schedule table on this page. The nonstop covers about 1,438 miles, and airlines adjust scheduled times by season, so confirm with the airline before you book. **Which airlines fly nonstop from CNS to MEL?** Jetstar, Virgin Australia, and Qantas fly CNS to MEL nonstop. 2LNR tracks award seats on Qantas. **How many flights a week are there from CNS to MEL?** About 57 nonstop flights a week run between Cairns (CNS) and Melbourne (MEL) in the current schedule, operated by Jetstar, Virgin Australia, and Qantas. Frequency shifts by season, and the schedule table on this page shows what is scheduled next. **What time do flights from CNS to MEL depart?** Scheduled CNS to MEL nonstops in the next 7 days with service leave between 07:00 and 23:55, local time at Cairns. The schedule table on this page lists every departure by date, with its arrival time and aircraft. **Which flights operate CNS to MEL nonstop?** The schedule table on this page lists 9 flight numbers for CNS to MEL nonstops, including JQ 33, JQ 941, JQ 943, JQ 945, and JQ 947 on Jetstar; VA 1292 and VA 1298 on Virgin Australia; and QF 703 on Qantas. The table lists each departure by date with its times and aircraft. **How do I check award availability on CNS to MEL?** Open the CNS to MEL route on the interactive map or the matrix to see award seats by date on Qantas, the next 14 days free and the full horizon on Pro. On Pro you can also set an alert on the route and 2LNR notifies you when space opens. Flying the other way? See [MEL to CNS nonstop flights and award space](https://2lnr.com/routes/mel-cns.md). Award seats rather than schedules? See [Qantas award availability](https://2lnr.com/awards/qf.md). Looking beyond this route? See [every route from Cairns (CNS)](https://2lnr.com/routes/cns.md), or [every route from Melbourne (MEL)](https://2lnr.com/routes/mel.md). - [How to plan an upgrade by route](https://2lnr.com/guides/upgrade-strategy.md) - [How to read award availability by date](https://2lnr.com/guides/award-availability.md) ## See CNS to MEL award space by date See what's open by date on this route, the next 14 days free on every product and the full horizon on Pro. [Get started free](https://2lnr.com/login)