Melbourne to Cairns (MEL-CNS): nonstop flights and award space

Jetstar, Virgin Australia, and Qantas fly nonstop between Melbourne (MEL) and Cairns (CNS), roughly 55 times a week. The timetable below shows the nonstop scheduled at 3h 15m to 4h 25m for the 1,438 miles. 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.

Updated .

See MEL to CNS on the interactive map Get started free
55
Flights a week, 4-week average
3h 15m to 4h 25m
Scheduled flight time
1,438 mi
Nonstop distance
Free
To get started

Melbourne to Cairns flight schedule

Scheduled nonstop departures for MEL to CNS starting October 23, 2026, last checked against our schedule feed on October 18, 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
VA 1291Virgin Australia06:0508:303h 25mBoeing 737 MAX 8
JQ 34Jetstar06:2508:453h 20mAirbus A321neo family
QF 702Qantas08:2510:503h 25mBoeing 737-800
VA 1293Virgin Australia08:3511:003h 25mBoeing 737 MAX 8
JQ 942Jetstar12:2014:403h 20mAirbus A320
JQ 948Jetstar17:2519:503h 25mAirbus A321
JQ 946Jetstar20:0522:303h 25mAirbus A320
VA 1291Virgin Australia06:0508:303h 25mBoeing 737-800
JQ 34Jetstar06:2508:453h 20mAirbus A321neo family
QF 702Qantas08:2510:503h 25mBoeing 737-800
VA 1293Virgin Australia09:3513:004h 25mBoeing 737-800
JQ 942Jetstar12:2014:403h 20mAirbus A320
JQ 948Jetstar17:2519:503h 25mAirbus A321
JQ 946Jetstar20:0522:303h 25mAirbus A320
JQ 34Jetstar06:1508:303h 15mAirbus A321neo family
QF 702Qantas08:3510:553h 20mBoeing 737-800
VA 1293Virgin Australia08:3511:053h 30mBoeing 737 MAX 8
JQ 944Jetstar12:5515:153h 20mAirbus A320
JQ 942Jetstar16:1518:353h 20mAirbus A321neo family
VA 1297Virgin Australia16:3519:053h 30mBoeing 737-800
JQ 946Jetstar19:5022:103h 20mAirbus A320
VA 1301Virgin Australia21:2523:553h 30mBoeing 737-700
QF 702Qantas08:3510:553h 20mBoeing 737-800
VA 1293Virgin Australia09:3513:004h 25mBoeing 737-800
JQ 948Jetstar15:2517:453h 20mAirbus A320
JQ 942Jetstar16:1518:353h 20mAirbus A320
VA 1297Virgin Australia16:3519:053h 30mBoeing 737-800
JQ 946Jetstar19:5022:103h 20mAirbus A320
VA 1301Virgin Australia21:2523:553h 30mBoeing 737-700
JQ 34Jetstar06:1508:303h 15mAirbus A321neo family
QF 702Qantas08:3510:553h 20mBoeing 737-800
VA 1293Virgin Australia09:3513:004h 25mBoeing 737-800
JQ 944Jetstar12:5015:103h 20mAirbus A320
JQ 942Jetstar16:0518:253h 20mAirbus A321
VA 1297Virgin Australia16:3519:053h 30mBoeing 737-800
JQ 946Jetstar19:5022:103h 20mAirbus A320
VA 1301Virgin Australia21:2523:553h 30mBoeing 737-700
JQ 34Jetstar06:1508:303h 15mAirbus A321neo family
QF 702Qantas08:3510:553h 20mBoeing 737-800
VA 1293Virgin Australia08:3511:053h 30mBoeing 737-800

Showing the first 40 of 53 scheduled MEL to CNS departures across 7 days with service, starting October 23, 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 MEL to CNS date on the interactive map

Aircraft on the Melbourne to Cairns nonstop

In the schedule table on this page, Jetstar flies the Airbus A320, the Airbus A321neo family, and the Airbus A321. Virgin Australia flies the Boeing 737-800, the Boeing 737 MAX 8, and the Boeing 737-700. Qantas flies the Boeing 737-800. Each linked aircraft page shows where that airline schedules it. Airlines can swap aircraft up to departure.

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.

Qantas award space was open on none of the 14 Melbourne to Cairns departure dates from October 19 to November 1 that 2LNR checked in the 7 days to October 19, 2026.

See real availability

Award seats by date on the MEL to CNS 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 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. Where 2LNR tracks the carrier, its departures show award space by date.

See MEL to CNS on the interactive map →

Frequently asked questions about MEL to CNS

How long is the flight from Melbourne (MEL) to Cairns (CNS)?
Scheduled flight times from Melbourne (MEL) to Cairns (CNS) run from 3h 15m to 4h 25m 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 MEL to CNS?
Jetstar, Virgin Australia, and Qantas fly MEL to CNS nonstop. 2LNR tracks award seats on Qantas.
How many flights a week are there from MEL to CNS?
About 55 nonstop flights a week run between Melbourne (MEL) and Cairns (CNS) 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 MEL to CNS depart?
Scheduled MEL to CNS nonstops in the next 7 days with service leave between 06:05 and 21:25, local time at Melbourne. The schedule table on this page lists every departure by date, with its arrival time and aircraft.
Which flights operate MEL to CNS nonstop?
The schedule table on this page lists 10 flight numbers for MEL to CNS nonstops, including JQ 34, JQ 942, JQ 946, and JQ 948 on Jetstar; VA 1293, VA 1297, and VA 1301 on Virgin Australia; and QF 702 on Qantas. The table lists each departure by date with its times and aircraft.
How do I check 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.

See MEL to CNS 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