Brisbane to Cairns
2h 09mgate to gate
The flight from Brisbane International Airport (BNE) to Cairns International Airport (CNS) covers 1,392 km (865 miles) and takes approximately 2h 09m gate to gate for a typical jet.
The route heads north-west on an initial great-circle bearing of 326°, passing near 22.2° S, 149.3° E at its midpoint.
Bearing 326° north-west Midpoint 22.2° S, 149.3° E Model 805 km/h + 25 min
SOURCE·OurAirports + great-circle computation·REVIEWED JUL 2026
How this is worked out
- Take both airports' published coordinates from OurAirports — nothing here is scraped from another flight site.
- Great-circle distance by haversine on a mean earth radius of 6,371.0088 km: 1,392 km.
- Airborne time = that distance ÷ 805 km/h, a representative jet cruise speed: 1h 44m.
- Add a flat 25 minutes for pushback, taxi, climb, descent and taxi-in — the reason a 400 km hop is never half an hour: 2h 09m gate to gate.
- Winds, aircraft type and airline schedule padding are not modelled. The cruise-speed table shows how much that assumption is worth.
1,392 km / 805 km/h = 1h 44m airborne
+ 25 min ground = 2h 09m gate to gate
SOURCE·OurAirports + great-circle computation·REVIEWED JUL 2026
The same route, plotted on a world grid
The strip above gives the route its length and its shape. This gives it a position: latitude and longitude only, no coastlines, because a hand-drawn coastline would be decoration pretending to be data. On a flat grid the shortest path looks bent; on a globe it is straight.
Flight time at different cruise speeds
Aircraft type, winds and routing all move the real number. This is the same distance flown at different speeds, plus the 25-minute ground and climb allowance.
| Typical of | Cruise speed | Airborne | Gate to gate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turboprop / regional | 550 km/h | 2h 32m | 2h 57m |
| Narrowbody jet (A320, 737) | 780 km/h | 1h 47m | 2h 12m |
| Widebody jet (777, 787, A350) | 900 km/h | 1h 33m | 1h 58m |
| Private jet (Gulfstream) | 850 km/h | 1h 38m | 2h 03m |
Headwinds on an eastbound long-haul routinely add 30–60 minutes; the same route westbound can be quicker. Airlines publish schedules with padding built in.
SOURCE·OurAirports + great-circle computation·REVIEWED JUL 2026
Both airports
| BNE | CNS | |
|---|---|---|
| Airport | Brisbane International Airport | Cairns International Airport |
| City | Brisbane | Cairns |
| Country | Australia | Australia |
| ICAO | YBBN | YBCS |
| Coordinates | -27.3842, 153.117 | -16.8789, 145.7495 |
| Elevation | 13 ft | 10 ft |
Every figure on this plate is geometry. The shape of the earth is knowable; the airline's schedule is not.
Questions this plate answers
How long is the flight from Brisbane to Cairns?
A non-stop flight from Brisbane (BNE) to Cairns (CNS) takes about 2h 09m. The great-circle distance is 1,392 km (865 miles, 752 nautical miles), flying north-west on an initial bearing of 326°.
How far is Brisbane from Cairns?
1,392 kilometres in a straight line over the earth's surface — 865 miles or 752 nautical miles. Actual flown distance is usually 2–5% longer because aircraft follow airways, avoid weather and route around restricted airspace.
Is there a non-stop flight between BNE and CNS?
This page calculates the direct-line time and distance; it does not track airline schedules. At 1,392 km the route is comfortably within range of a non-stop service if an airline chooses to fly it. Check an airline or booking site for what is actually scheduled.
Airport coordinates from OurAirports (public domain). Distance is a great-circle calculation; flight time uses the model described on the method page. Flight times are great-circle estimates for planning only — always check the airline's published schedule.
