Direct flights between Cairns and the Whitsundays
Skytrans Airlines is an Australian owned airline and charter business, based in Cairns. The airline operates as a passenger, mail and charter service. It flies to over twenty regional destinations within Australia and the Torres Strait Islands including Horn Island, Rockhampton, and Thursday Island.
Skytrans recently announced they will be flying direct between Cairns Airport and the Whitsundays Coast Airport, which is good news for holidaymakers and nomads! Previously, if you were wanting to catch a flight between the two tropical hot spots, you’d have to go via Brisbane and sometimes even Sydney, adding unnecessary hours of travel time!
How much will it cost to travel between Cairns and the Whitsundays?
You’re looking at prices as low as $199 for one way which would make for a $400 round trip. The only downside is that Skytrans only offers flights three days a week; Sunday, Thursday and Friday. However, the perk is that they are direct and quick! Just think - you could be stopping via Brisbane AND Sydney - so it really is a win-win.
The history of Skytrans
Photo credit: Skytrans
Skytrans was originally founded in 1990 as a charter airline and eventually grew and merged with AirSwift Aviation in 2000. After operating for almost 15 years, the airline was suspended due to the worsening currency exchange rate and a tough operating environment. In 2015, Queenslanders, Peter Collings (business guru) and Johnathan Thurston (NRL star) purchased and relaunched the airline. Collings already owned West Wing Aviation so he wasn't new to the game. The pair shared a passion for regional and remote areas of Queensland and wanted to share that passion with everyone else!
Currently, the growing company’s head office is located in Cairns, with regional offices in Townsville, Brisbane and Horn Island. Employing over 100 staff, Skytrans services thousands of passengers per year.
Why fly to Cairns?
Cairns is known as the gateway to both the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest; two natural wonders. It’s a larger city which means there are plenty of fun, relaxing and adventurous activities to fill your days with. The city itself is located an hour from the Great Barrier Reef and an hour from the Daintree which means it’s the perfect place to visit to reconnect with nature.
Spend your time in Cairns chasing waterfalls, hiking through the rainforest, exploring the Indigenous culture, looking for crocodiles, taking day trips out to the Great Barrier Reef, and indulging in the endless variety of restaurants, bars and cafes on offer. A 30 minute drive from the city will take you to an enchanting mountain village called Kuranda which is located in the middle of the dense rainforest. The perk about visiting Kuranda is to get there you can drive OR you could take the Scenic Skyrail or Railway. Two unique forms of transport, both guaranteed to captivate you with the incredible scenery and views.
Why fly to the Whitsundays?
The Whitsunday region is home to 74 islands, the Great Barrier Reef, quaint little towns, beaches filled with sparkling silica sands and a buzzing tropical atmosphere. If that’s not enough to spark your interest, imagine scuba diving with green sea turtles, sipping champagne aboard a sunset cruise through the islands or boarding a scenic flight over the famous Heart Reef.
Airlie Beach is the most popular town in the Whitsundays and is one of Australia’s beloved holiday destinations. The town is perfectly catered towards holiday makers, backpackers and van-lifers, offering a plethora of activities. If you’re on a relaxing holiday then the sunset cruises, fine dining restaurants, cocktail bars, and poolside hangouts might be more up your alley. However, if you’re on the opposite side of the spectrum and excited for a thrill-seeking getaway, check out Airlie’s skydiving, scuba diving on the reef, fast boats, jet skiing, helicopter tours and more! There is absolutely something for everyone!
