MEL → CNSMelbourne to Cairns

live

Direct flights from Melbourne (MEL) to Cairns (CNS): 21 nonstop departures observed each week across 3 airlines. 83% of the last 24 operated flights arrived within 15 minutes of schedule. The median arrival is 4 minutes late. No cancellations were recorded across the 24 tracked flights. The nonstop covers 2,313 km, an estimated 3 hours 28 minutes in the air. Measured by Pro Flight Search from live flight boards at Melbourne and Cairns. Updated 23 October 2026 at 05:48 UTC.

Today, MEL → CNS

Fri 23 Oct · local times
  1. 06:05 VA1291Virgin Australia Left 06:22 +17 Landed 08:38 +8
  2. 06:25 JQ34Jetstar Left 07:26 +61 Landed 09:15 +30
  3. 08:25 QF702Qantas Left 08:21 Landed 10:34 −16
  4. 08:35 VA1293Virgin Australia Left 09:03 +28 Landed 11:14 +14
  5. 12:20 JQ942Jetstar Left 12:48 +28 Landed 15:05 +25
  6. 17:25 JQ948Jetstar Est. 17:25Departure not confirmed by the board ·

Checked MEL board 15:18 · CNS board 15:48

MEL Melbourne smooth · +14
CNS Cairns smooth · +7
2,313 km · ~3h 28m est.
dep bank 06:05–20:0521x weekly
Runs reliable · 3 airlines · 21x weekly · nonstop
83% on time

of the last 24 operated MEL → CNS flights arrived within 15 minutes

Median arrival delay is +4 min. 0 of 24 tracked legs cancelled in the sample. Will a delayed flight be cancelled? →

Median arrival+4 minacross the last 24 operated legs
Flight time~3h 28mestimated from route distance
Weekly departures21x3 direct airlines on the leg
Cancelled0.0%recent route rate · 0 of 24

The week

scheduled departures · origin local time
06121824
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
Jetstar AirwaysQantas AirwaysVirgin Australia

Each mark is a scheduled departure at its origin-local time, observed operating in the last 7 days. Today is highlighted.

Who flies it

observed on the boards · 7 days
Jetstar AirwaysJQ75% on time

Flights JQ34 06:25 daily · JQ942 12:20 daily · JQ948 17:25 daily · JQ946 20:05 daily

Qantas AirwaysQF

Flights QF702 08:25 daily · QF704 14:15 Mo

Virgin AustraliaVA88% on time

Flights VA1291 06:05 daily · VA1293 08:35 daily

History

operated legs · board outcomes
10-23JQ34dep +61 → arr+30
10-23JQ942dep +28 → arr+25
10-23QF702dep −4 → arr−16
10-23VA1291dep +17 → arr+8
10-23VA1293dep +28 → arr+14
10-22JQ34dep +21 → arr+10
10-22JQ942dep +4 → arr−5
10-22JQ946dep +31 → arr+5
10-22JQ948dep +12 → arr−15
10-22QF702dep +13 → arr+0
10-22VA1291dep +23 → arr+4
10-22VA1293dep +18 → arr−16
10-21JQ34dep +14 → arr+4
10-21JQ946dep +3 → arr−20
10-21JQ948dep +29 → arr+8
10-21QF702dep +1 → arr−15
10-21VA1291dep +0 → arr−15
10-21VA1293dep +15 → arr+0
10-20JQ34dep +36 → arr+7
10-20JQ946dep +44 → arr+21
10-20JQ948dep +31 → arr+8
10-20QF702dep −1 → arr−18
10-20VA1291arrived+39
10-20VA1293arrived−8

Actual board outcomes rather than schedules, paired departure and arrival per flight and day.

Full board history, day by day →

Airports right now

live boards
MELMelbourne +14 min smooth 🌤 clear · N 12 kt Full MEL delay board →
CNSCairns +7 min smooth ⛅ overcast · N 6 kt Full CNS delay board →

Weather lens

Current conditions put the pressure at MEL: 38% odds of a 15+ minute delay and around +8 min expected when it bites, measured from this route's own weather-matched delay history. See live delays → · Weather risk by airport →

How the Melbourne to Cairns route actually runs

Pro Flight Search records official board updates for nonstop MEL to CNS flights through the day: schedules, estimates, gate pushes and actual departures. The verdict above comes from operated flights, so it reflects what this route does rather than what the timetable promises.

Planning around a delay? Live airport delays · Weather delay risk map · Will a delayed flight be cancelled? · Do planes make up time in the air? · How we measure

Cite this data

Journalists, bloggers, and researchers may cite this page with attribution and a link to Pro Flight Search.

Suggested citation

Pro Flight Search — Melbourne (MEL) to Cairns (CNS) route reliability, measured from operated flights on official airport boards.

Canonical URL
https://proflightsearch.com/search-flights/MEL-CNS
How we measure this →

MEL to CNS questions

Is MEL–CNS running on time right now?

Smooth skies ahead. The departure side at MEL is the weaker end, route health score 82/100. The airports section above carries the live status and delay window at both ends.

Morning or evening flight on MEL–CNS?

Operators schedule morning departures around 06:05 and evening departures around 17:25 from MEL. Earlier flights typically land before destination-airport delays accumulate later in the day; check the CNS delay card to confirm conditions when you'd arrive.

How long is the flight from MEL to CNS?

Great-circle distance is 2,313 km. With typical jet cruise speed plus taxi, climb and descent, expect roughly 193–228 min gate-to-gate on this route.

How often does MEL–CNS fly?

3 carriers operate this route, around 50 flights a week between them. Compare carrier days and times in the airline list above.