Melbourne to Cairns (MEL-CNS): nonstop upgrade & award space

Jetstar, Virgin Australia Regional Airlines, and Qantas fly nonstop between Melbourne (MEL) and Cairns (CNS), roughly 58 times a week. With this many departures on a short sector, premium cabins are small and turn over daily, so upgrade or award space opens and closes within hours. 2LNR tracks award seats on Qantas across every MEL to CNS date, so you can see whether a seat exists before you move points.

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

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58
Nonstop flights a week
1,438 mi
Nonstop distance
Free
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Melbourne to Cairns flight schedule

Scheduled nonstop departures for MEL to CNS, last checked against our schedule feed on September 6, 2026. Airlines retime and cancel flights, so confirm with the airline before you book.

Schedule data dated .

Scheduled nonstop departures from Melbourne (MEL) to Cairns (CNS)
Date Flight Airline Departs MEL Arrives CNS Duration Aircraft
JQ 34Jetstar06:2509:453h 20m32Q
VA 1291Virgin Australia Regional Airlines06:2509:503h 25m73H
QF 702Qantas08:2511:503h 25m73H
VA 1293Virgin Australia Regional Airlines09:3513:003h 25m7M8
JQ 942Jetstar11:2014:403h 20m320
JQ 948Jetstar17:2520:503h 25m320
JQ 946Jetstar19:1522:403h 25m320
JQ 34Jetstar06:2509:453h 20m32Q
VA 1291Virgin Australia Regional Airlines06:2509:503h 25m73H
QF 702Qantas08:2511:503h 25m73H
VA 1293Virgin Australia Regional Airlines09:3513:003h 25m73H
JQ 942Jetstar11:2014:403h 20m320
JQ 944Jetstar15:3518:553h 20m320
JQ 948Jetstar17:2520:503h 25m321
JQ 946Jetstar19:1522:403h 25m320
JQ 34Jetstar06:2509:453h 20m32Q
VA 1291Virgin Australia Regional Airlines06:2509:503h 25m73H
QF 702Qantas08:2511:503h 25m73H
VA 1293Virgin Australia Regional Airlines09:3513:003h 25m73H
JQ 942Jetstar11:2014:403h 20m320
JQ 944Jetstar15:3518:553h 20m320
JQ 946Jetstar19:1522:403h 25m320
JQ 34Jetstar06:2509:453h 20m32Q
VA 1291Virgin Australia Regional Airlines06:2509:503h 25m73H
QF 702Qantas08:2511:503h 25m73H
VA 1293Virgin Australia Regional Airlines09:3513:003h 25m73H
JQ 942Jetstar11:2014:403h 20m320
JQ 944Jetstar15:3518:553h 20m320
JQ 948Jetstar17:2520:503h 25m321
JQ 946Jetstar19:1522:403h 25m320
JQ 34Jetstar06:2509:453h 20m32Q
VA 1291Virgin Australia Regional Airlines06:2509:503h 25m73W
QF 702Qantas08:2511:503h 25m73H
VA 1293Virgin Australia Regional Airlines09:3513:003h 25m73H
JQ 942Jetstar11:2014:403h 20m320
JQ 944Jetstar15:3518:553h 20m320
JQ 946Jetstar19:1522:403h 25m320
JQ 34Jetstar06:2509:453h 20m32Q
VA 1291Virgin Australia Regional Airlines06:2509:503h 25m7M8
QF 702Qantas08:2511:503h 25m73H

Showing the first 40 of 54 scheduled MEL to CNS departures across the next 7 days with service. 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 has not filed that value in the schedule data we hold. Aircraft are IATA equipment codes as filed, and can change up to departure.

See every MEL to CNS date on the interactive map

Award seats on MEL to CNS departures

2LNR tracks award seats on Qantas, date by date. Open the calendar for Melbourne to Cairns to see whether a seat exists before you move points, the next 14 days free on every product and the full horizon on Pro.

See real availability

Confirmed upgrade and award seats on each MEL to CNS departure, checked against live inventory so you know what is open before you book.

Set an alert

Premium inventory turns over fast. Watch this route and 2LNR notifies you when space appears on a date you are tracking.

Plan on the map

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

Airlines flying Melbourne to Cairns nonstop

Carriers operating MEL to CNS nonstop in the current schedule. 2LNR tracks confirmed upgrade and award space on each of them.

See MEL to CNS on the interactive map →

Frequently asked questions about MEL to CNS

How far is Cairns from Melbourne?
MEL to CNS covers about 1,438 miles nonstop. Flight times vary by aircraft and season; the schedule table on this page lists each scheduled departure with its own times.
Which airlines fly nonstop from MEL to CNS?
Jetstar, Virgin Australia Regional Airlines, and Qantas fly the route nonstop. 2LNR tracks award seats on Qantas.
How many flights a week are there from MEL to CNS?
About 58 nonstop flights a week run between Melbourne and Cairns in the current schedule, operated by Jetstar, Virgin Australia Regional Airlines, and Qantas. Frequency shifts by season, and the schedule table on this page shows what is scheduled next.
What time do flights from MEL to CNS depart?
Scheduled MEL to CNS nonstops in the next 7 days with service leave between 06:25 and 19:15, local time at Melbourne. The schedule table on this page lists every departure by date, with its arrival time and aircraft.
How do I check upgrade or award availability on MEL to CNS?
Open the MEL to CNS 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.

Never miss MEL to CNS upgrade or award space

See what is open by date on this route, the next 14 days free on every product and the full horizon on Pro.

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