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Cheap flights from South Africa to Cairns from R16 733

This is the cheapest retur flight price found by a Cheapflights user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight departing on 5/3. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
JNB — CNS
Nov 25 — Dec 21
1 adult
1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

Find flight deals from South Africa to Cairns

Enter your travel dates to find the best prices.

Cheapest flights from South Africa to Cairns
Explore the most affordable flight options available from South Africa to Cairns. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on 26 October 2025.

Tue 9/1211:00JNB - CNS
1 stop38h 55mCathay Pacific
Tue 16/1211:25CNS - JNB
1 stop28h 00mCathay Pacific
Deal found 25/10R23 702
Tue 9/1219:10JNB - CNS
3 stops53h 10mMultiple Airlines
Tue 16/1212:35CNS - JNB
3 stops54h 15mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 25/10R26 669

Cheap flight deals from South Africa to Cairns

Keep the following information in mind while searching for South Africa to Cairns flight deals. Data was last updated 26 October 2025.

Round-trip from

R16 733

Popular in

December

Cheapest in

October

Average price

R14 473
Cathay Pacific
  • Cathay Pacific
  • 5/3-9/3
  • 4 total stops
  • 112h 20m total
  • South Africa to Cairns
Search Deals
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 15% potential increase in price (R58 921 potential increase over avg. return price).
Search Deals
Cheapest flight prices on average. 3% potential price decrease (R9 648 potential savings vs. average return price).
Search Deals
Average for round-trip flights in October 2025
Search Deals

Cheapflights Fare Finder

 
Customise your flight search to find flights from South Africa to Cairns that fit within your specific budget. Explore options based on user searches and filter the results based on your desired price range. Find flights that match your budget for a cost-effective journey. Over the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made 594 507 searches. Data last updated 26 October 2025.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from South Africa to Cairns that are best for you.

Fly from

South Africa

Fly to

Cairns

Route

Depart

Return

Price

JohannesburgCairns

JNB - CNS

JNBCNS

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Thu 5/3

11:00-10:45

2 stops63h 45m

Cairns

Mon 9/3

14:50-7:25

2 stops48h 35m

R16 733

JohannesburgCairns

JNB - CNS

JNBCNS

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Thu 5/3

17:30-8:20

1 stop30h 50m

Cairns

Mon 9/3

17:35-15:00

2 stops53h 25m

R19 458

JohannesburgCairns

JNB - CNS

JNBCNS

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Thu 5/3

13:40-17:20

1 stop19h 40m

Cairns

Mon 9/3

18:35-6:10

1 stop19h 35m

R20 528

JohannesburgCairns

JNB - CNS

JNBCNS

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Tue 9/12

11:00-9:55

1 stop38h 55m

Cairns

Tue 16/12

11:25-7:25

1 stop28h 00m

R23 702

JohannesburgCairns

JNB - CNS

JNBCNS

Johannesburg OR Tambo

Tue 9/12

19:10-8:20

3 stops53h 10m

Cairns

Tue 16/12

12:35-10:50

3 stops54h 15m

R26 669

Flights are sorted by cheapest return flights first.

Deals found on 23/10

Best time to book a flight from South Africa to Cairns

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to Cairns from South Africa with our price prediction graph.
Estimated return price
Rates are based on past data. Find the cheapest month and day to book your flight based on your travel requirements, then search for cheap deals.

Cheapflights Insights

Everything you need to know about your flight from South Africa to Cairns

What is the cheapest month to book a flight from South Africa to Cairns?

Currently, November is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from South Africa to Cairns (average of R11 575). Flying from South Africa to Cairns in December is currently the most expensive (average of R17 957). There are several factors that can impact the price of a flight, so comparing airlines, departure airports and flight times can provide users with more options.

What is the cheapest time of day to fly from ZA to CNS?

Find hourly flight availability from South Africa to Cairns. Discover flight options and departure times throughout the day, allowing you to choose a departure time that suits your schedule. Data last updated 26 October 2025.

It’s optimal to fly from South Africa to Cairns at midday. By choosing this option you can save up to 9% on the cost of your flight, compared to a flight in the afternoon.

Reviews of airlines servicing Cairns

Get insights into the airlines that provide service to Cairns. Read reviews, discover amenities, and learn about the overall travel experience offered by airlines. Use this information to make informed decisions when choosing an airline for your flight to Cairns. Reviews last updated 26 October 2025.
Check out reviews from past customers who have flown with Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, andQantas Airways from South Africa to Cairns to help guide your decision. You can also see how each airline stacks up in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
Singapore Airlines
8,1
Very Good
1 387 reviews
Check prices

Boarding

8,3

Overall

8,1

Crew

8,6

Comfort

8,0

Food

7,7

Entertainment

8,0

Reviews

1 / 20
10,0
Excellent

Anonymous,Jul 2025

DAD - SIN

Person in front laid back his seat. I’m quite tall found it difficult to sit straight lucky seat next to me was empty was able to stretch my legs. Eating my meal was difficult also as seat remained lowered
Singapore Airlines
8,1
Very Good
1 387 reviews
Singapore Airlines
8,1
Very Good
1 387 reviews
Check prices

Boarding

8,3

Overall

8,1

Crew

8,6

Comfort

8,0

Food

7,7

Entertainment

8,0

Reviews

1 / 20
10,0
Excellent

Anonymous,Jul 2025

DAD - SIN

Person in front laid back his seat. I’m quite tall found it difficult to sit straight lucky seat next to me was empty was able to stretch my legs. Eating my meal was difficult also as seat remained lowered
Cathay Pacific
7,6
Good
1 040 reviews
Singapore Airlines
8,1
Very Good
1 387 reviews
Check prices

Boarding

8,3

Overall

8,1

Crew

8,6

Comfort

8,0

Food

7,7

Entertainment

8,0

Reviews

1 / 20
10,0
Excellent

Anonymous,Jul 2025

DAD - SIN

Person in front laid back his seat. I’m quite tall found it difficult to sit straight lucky seat next to me was empty was able to stretch my legs. Eating my meal was difficult also as seat remained lowered
Qantas Airways
7,5
Good
923 reviews
Singapore Airlines
8,1
Very Good
1 387 reviews
Check prices

Boarding

8,3

Overall

8,1

Crew

8,6

Comfort

8,0

Food

7,7

Entertainment

8,0

Reviews

1 / 20
10,0
Excellent

Anonymous,Jul 2025

DAD - SIN

Person in front laid back his seat. I’m quite tall found it difficult to sit straight lucky seat next to me was empty was able to stretch my legs. Eating my meal was difficult also as seat remained lowered

Related info for your journey

Find useful and relevant information for your journey from South Africa to Cairns. Access travel guides, tips, and recommendations to enhance your travel experience. Get information about local attractions, weather, transportation options, and more.

  • What airport do you fly into for flights to Cairns from South Africa?

    For a flight from South Africa to Cairns, you will be flying into Cairns. Cairns (CNS) is just 4,4 km from the centre of the city.

  • How long is the flight from South Africa to Cairns?

    Airlines like Cathay Pacific and Qantas Airways fly from South Africa to Cairns in about 30h 50m. The time it takes to get you to your destination can typically vary by up to 32h 55m. The distance from South Africa to Cairns is about 11734 km. This flight may include one or multiple stops.

  • Can I find deals for flights from South Africa to Cairns that include hotel bookings?

    Yes. In addition to deals on South Africa to Cairns flights, Cheapflights offers holiday packages that include both flights and hotel.

  • How can I find direct flights from South Africa to Cairns?

    After entering your origin and destination, apply the non-stop filter on the search result page to find direct flights from South Africa to Cairns.

  • Can I find deals for business class flights from South Africa to Cairns?

    Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from South Africa to Cairns by cabin class. In addition to browsing deals, you can also filter by cabin class on the search results page after making a search.

  • What is the cheapest month to book a flight from South Africa to Cairns?

    Currently, November is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from South Africa to Cairns (average of R11 575). Flying from South Africa to Cairns in December is currently the most expensive (average of R17 957). There are several factors that can impact the price of a flight, so comparing airlines, departure airports and flight times can provide users with more options.

See more FAQs

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Alternative routes for South Africa to Cairns

See prices for flight routes from nearby airports that may be better suited for you.
OR Tambo to Brisbane flights
Cape Town to Brisbane flights
OR Tambo to Cairns flights

Top 3 airlines flying from South Africa to Cairns

Discover the top 3 airlines that operate flights from South Africa to Cairns. Compare their services, reliability, and customer satisfaction ratings to choose the airline that best suits your travel preferences and needs. Over the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made 594 507 searches. Data last updated 26 October 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
Singapore AirlinesCheapestR12 511AverageR18 742FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time81%
Search Singapore Airlines flights
Cathay PacificCheapestR14 703AverageR16 444FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time72%
Search Cathay Pacific flights
Qantas AirwaysCheapestR16 314AverageR20 727FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time74%
Search Qantas Airways flights

Fly with Cheapflights

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How does Cheapflights help users find flights from South Africa to Cairns?

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Why should you use Cheapflights to find cheap flight tickets from South Africa to Cairns?

Cheapflights simply makes it quick and affordable to book flights from South Africa to Cairns by bringing together all flight options from hundreds of airlines and agencies online — and put it in one place for you to choose from. Plus, Cheapflights is 100% free to use for all.

Can Cheapflights find flights from South Africa to Cairns with no change fees?

Need flexible booking options for your flight to Cairns from South Africa? Don’t worry, Cheapflights have you covered. Use our search filter to only show flights with no change fees.

Can Cheapflights notify me if prices for flights from South Africa to Cairns become cheaper?

Of course! You can now track prices for flights from South Africa to Cairns and get an alert from Cheapflights when they change. Have a valid email address ready and click the bell icon next to the flight deals above to set up your price alerts.

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