SYD → CNSSydney to Cairns

live

Direct flights from Sydney (SYD) to Cairns (CNS): 21 nonstop departures observed each week across 3 airlines. 76% of the last 17 operated flights arrived within 15 minutes of schedule. The median arrival is on schedule. No cancellations were recorded across the 17 tracked flights. The nonstop covers 1,973 km, an estimated 3 hours 2 minutes in the air. Measured by Pro Flight Search from live flight boards at Sydney and Cairns. Updated 19 October 2026 at 04:38 UTC.

Today, SYD → CNS

Mon 19 Oct · local times
JQ958Jetstar25 min late

The SYD board at 15:38 shows departure at 18:30 instead of 18:05.

Later cancelled
0.4%of 902 past Jetstar flights whose board showed 20 to 40 min late
Still to leave today
JQ956 20:15Jetstar
Track JQ958 →
QF1818QantasIn the air, 20 min late

Left SYD at 11:50, 20 min after its 11:30 slot.

Landing
13:43CNS board estimate · sched 13:40
  1. 06:10 JQ950Jetstar Left 06:10 Landed 07:57 −23
  2. 08:10 VA1413Virgin Australia Left 08:15 +5 Landed 10:28 +3
  3. 09:45 QF922Qantas Left 09:55 +10 Landed 12:13 +18
  4. 11:30 JQ952Jetstar Left 11:28 Landed 14:05 +25
  5. 11:30 QF1818Qantas Left 11:50 +20 CNS est. 13:43In the air · sched 13:40
  6. 12:40 VA1419Virgin Australia Left 12:45 +5 CNS est. 14:47In the air · sched 14:55
  7. 15:15 JQ954Jetstar Left 15:15 ·
  8. 18:05 JQ958Jetstar Est. 18:30 +25T2 ·
  9. 20:15 JQ956Jetstar On scheduleT2 ·

Checked SYD board 15:38 · CNS board 13:14

SYD Sydney smooth · +0
CNS Cairns busy · +18
1,973 km · ~3h 02m est.
dep bank 06:10–20:1521x weekly
Runs mixed · 3 airlines · 21x weekly · nonstop
76% on time

of the last 17 operated SYD → CNS flights arrived within 15 minutes

Median arrival delay is +0 min. 0 of 17 tracked legs cancelled in the sample. Will a delayed flight be cancelled? →

Median arrival+0 minacross the last 17 operated legs
Flight time~3h 02mestimated from route distance
Weekly departures21x3 direct airlines on the leg
Cancelled0.0%recent route rate · 0 of 17

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 AirwaysJQ71% on time

Flights JQ950 06:10 daily · JQ952 11:30 daily · JQ954 15:15 daily · JQ958 18:05 Mo We Fr

Qantas AirwaysQF60% on time

Flights QF922 09:45 daily · QF1878 19:20 Mo Tu Th Su

Virgin AustraliaVA100% on time

Flights VA1413 08:10 daily · VA1419 12:40 daily · VA1423 15:10 Mo Th Fr Su

History

operated legs · board outcomes
10-19JQ950dep +0 → arr−23
10-19JQ952dep −2 → arr+25
10-19JQ954departed+0
10-19QF1818dep +20 → arr+3
10-19QF922dep +10 → arr+18
10-19VA1413dep +5 → arr+3
10-19VA1419dep +5 → arr−8
10-18JQ950departed+0
10-18JQ952departed+15
10-18JQ954departed+0
10-18JQ956departed+65
10-18QF1818departed+25
10-18QF1878departed+0
10-18QF922departed+10
10-18VA1413departed+0
10-18VA1419departed+0
10-18VA1423departed+0

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
SYDSydney +0 min smooth 🌤 few clouds · E 15 kt Full SYD delay board →
CNSCairns +18 min busy 🌤 mostly cloudy · SE 12 kt Full CNS delay board →

Weather lens

Current conditions put the pressure at SYD and CNS: 33% odds of a 15+ minute delay and around +4 min expected when it bites, measured from this route's own weather-matched delay history. See live delays → · Weather risk by airport →

How the Sydney to Cairns route actually runs

Pro Flight Search records official board updates for nonstop SYD 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 — Sydney (SYD) to Cairns (CNS) route reliability, measured from operated flights on official airport boards.

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

SYD to CNS questions

Is SYD–CNS running on time right now?

Smooth skies ahead. The arrival side at CNS is the weaker end, route health score 88/100. The airports section above carries the live status and delay window at both ends.

Morning or evening flight on SYD–CNS?

Operators schedule morning departures around 06:10 and evening departures around 18:05 from SYD. 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 SYD to CNS?

Great-circle distance is 1,973 km. With typical jet cruise speed plus taxi, climb and descent, expect roughly 169–199 min gate-to-gate on this route.

How often does SYD–CNS fly?

3 carriers operate this route, around 60 flights a week between them. Compare carrier days and times in the airline list above.