---
title: "Melbourne (MEL) to Cairns (CNS) flights: who flies it"
description: "Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia fly nonstop from MEL to CNS, about 55 flights a week, covering 1,438 miles. See award seats by date on 2LNR, the next 14 days free."
canonical: "https://2lnr.com/routes/mel-cns"
url: "https://2lnr.com/routes/mel-cns.md"
date_modified: "2026-10-18T05:10:47Z"
---

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

Updated October 23, 2026.

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

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.

Scheduled nonstop departures from Melbourne (MEL) to Cairns (CNS)

| Date | Flight | Airline | Departs MEL | Arrives CNS | Duration | Aircraft |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Fri, Oct 23 | VA 1291 | Virgin Australia | 06:05 | 08:30 | 3h 25m | [Boeing 737 MAX 8](https://2lnr.com/seatmaps/va/737-max-8.md) |
| Fri, Oct 23 | JQ 34 | Jetstar | 06:25 | 08:45 | 3h 20m | [Airbus A321neo family](https://2lnr.com/seatmaps/jq/a321neo.md) |
| Fri, Oct 23 | QF 702 | Qantas | 08:25 | 10:50 | 3h 25m | [Boeing 737-800](https://2lnr.com/seatmaps/qf/737-800.md) |
| Fri, Oct 23 | VA 1293 | Virgin Australia | 08:35 | 11:00 | 3h 25m | Boeing 737 MAX 8 |
| Fri, Oct 23 | JQ 942 | Jetstar | 12:20 | 14:40 | 3h 20m | [Airbus A320](https://2lnr.com/seatmaps/jq/a320.md) |
| Fri, Oct 23 | JQ 948 | Jetstar | 17:25 | 19:50 | 3h 25m | [Airbus A321](https://2lnr.com/seatmaps/jq/a321.md) |
| Fri, Oct 23 | JQ 946 | Jetstar | 20:05 | 22:30 | 3h 25m | Airbus A320 |
| Sat, Oct 24 | VA 1291 | Virgin Australia | 06:05 | 08:30 | 3h 25m | [Boeing 737-800](https://2lnr.com/seatmaps/va/737-800.md) |
| Sat, Oct 24 | JQ 34 | Jetstar | 06:25 | 08:45 | 3h 20m | Airbus A321neo family |
| Sat, Oct 24 | QF 702 | Qantas | 08:25 | 10:50 | 3h 25m | Boeing 737-800 |
| Sat, Oct 24 | VA 1293 | Virgin Australia | 09:35 | 13:00 | 4h 25m | Boeing 737-800 |
| Sat, Oct 24 | JQ 942 | Jetstar | 12:20 | 14:40 | 3h 20m | Airbus A320 |
| Sat, Oct 24 | JQ 948 | Jetstar | 17:25 | 19:50 | 3h 25m | Airbus A321 |
| Sat, Oct 24 | JQ 946 | Jetstar | 20:05 | 22:30 | 3h 25m | Airbus A320 |
| Sun, Oct 25 | JQ 34 | Jetstar | 06:15 | 08:30 | 3h 15m | Airbus A321neo family |
| Sun, Oct 25 | QF 702 | Qantas | 08:35 | 10:55 | 3h 20m | Boeing 737-800 |
| Sun, Oct 25 | VA 1293 | Virgin Australia | 08:35 | 11:05 | 3h 30m | Boeing 737 MAX 8 |
| Sun, Oct 25 | JQ 944 | Jetstar | 12:55 | 15:15 | 3h 20m | Airbus A320 |
| Sun, Oct 25 | JQ 942 | Jetstar | 16:15 | 18:35 | 3h 20m | Airbus A321neo family |
| Sun, Oct 25 | VA 1297 | Virgin Australia | 16:35 | 19:05 | 3h 30m | Boeing 737-800 |
| Sun, Oct 25 | JQ 946 | Jetstar | 19:50 | 22:10 | 3h 20m | Airbus A320 |
| Sun, Oct 25 | VA 1301 | Virgin Australia | 21:25 | 23:55 | 3h 30m | [Boeing 737-700](https://2lnr.com/seatmaps/va/737-700.md) |
| Mon, Oct 26 | QF 702 | Qantas | 08:35 | 10:55 | 3h 20m | Boeing 737-800 |
| Mon, Oct 26 | VA 1293 | Virgin Australia | 09:35 | 13:00 | 4h 25m | Boeing 737-800 |
| Mon, Oct 26 | JQ 948 | Jetstar | 15:25 | 17:45 | 3h 20m | Airbus A320 |
| Mon, Oct 26 | JQ 942 | Jetstar | 16:15 | 18:35 | 3h 20m | Airbus A320 |
| Mon, Oct 26 | VA 1297 | Virgin Australia | 16:35 | 19:05 | 3h 30m | Boeing 737-800 |
| Mon, Oct 26 | JQ 946 | Jetstar | 19:50 | 22:10 | 3h 20m | Airbus A320 |
| Mon, Oct 26 | VA 1301 | Virgin Australia | 21:25 | 23:55 | 3h 30m | Boeing 737-700 |
| Tue, Oct 27 | JQ 34 | Jetstar | 06:15 | 08:30 | 3h 15m | Airbus A321neo family |
| Tue, Oct 27 | QF 702 | Qantas | 08:35 | 10:55 | 3h 20m | Boeing 737-800 |
| Tue, Oct 27 | VA 1293 | Virgin Australia | 09:35 | 13:00 | 4h 25m | Boeing 737-800 |
| Tue, Oct 27 | JQ 944 | Jetstar | 12:50 | 15:10 | 3h 20m | Airbus A320 |
| Tue, Oct 27 | JQ 942 | Jetstar | 16:05 | 18:25 | 3h 20m | Airbus A321 |
| Tue, Oct 27 | VA 1297 | Virgin Australia | 16:35 | 19:05 | 3h 30m | Boeing 737-800 |
| Tue, Oct 27 | JQ 946 | Jetstar | 19:50 | 22:10 | 3h 20m | Airbus A320 |
| Tue, Oct 27 | VA 1301 | Virgin Australia | 21:25 | 23:55 | 3h 30m | Boeing 737-700 |
| Wed, Oct 28 | JQ 34 | Jetstar | 06:15 | 08:30 | 3h 15m | Airbus A321neo family |
| Wed, Oct 28 | QF 702 | Qantas | 08:35 | 10:55 | 3h 20m | Boeing 737-800 |
| Wed, Oct 28 | VA 1293 | Virgin Australia | 08:35 | 11:05 | 3h 30m | Boeing 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](https://2lnr.com/seatmaps/jq/a320.md), the [Airbus A321neo family](https://2lnr.com/seatmaps/jq/a321neo.md), and the [Airbus A321](https://2lnr.com/seatmaps/jq/a321.md). Virgin Australia flies the [Boeing 737-800](https://2lnr.com/seatmaps/va/737-800.md), the [Boeing 737 MAX 8](https://2lnr.com/seatmaps/va/737-max-8.md), and the [Boeing 737-700](https://2lnr.com/seatmaps/va/737-700.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 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.

- [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 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.

Flying the other way? See [CNS to MEL nonstop flights and award space](https://2lnr.com/routes/cns-mel.md).

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

Looking beyond this route? See [every route from Melbourne (MEL)](https://2lnr.com/routes/mel.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)
- [How to read award availability by date](https://2lnr.com/guides/award-availability.md)

## 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](https://2lnr.com/login)