Denver vs Colorado Springs Airport Delays Compared

Colorado Springs recorded an 80.9% on-time departure rate, compared with 76.3% at Denver International, in FlightRecord’s 24-month data. Their average departure delays were nearly identical—16.6 versus 16.7 minutes—while Denver had a lower cancellation rate and a much larger destination network.

All figures below describe historical departures, not live airport conditions or a prediction for an individual flight.

Key takeaways

• Colorado Springs recorded 80.9% on-time departures across 26,183 departures, 4.6 points above Denver’s 76.3%.
• Average departure delay was effectively the same: 16.6 minutes at Colorado Springs and 16.7 minutes at Denver.
• Denver recorded a 0.8% cancellation rate, compared with 1.2% at Colorado Springs.
• Denver served 195 destinations in the dataset, while Colorado Springs served 19.

Which Denver and Colorado Springs airport had the strongest historical departure record?

Colorado Springs recorded an 80.9% on-time departure rate, compared with 76.3% at Denver International, in FlightRecord’s 24-month data. Their average departure delays were nearly identical—16.6 versus 16.7 minutes—while Denver had a lower cancellation rate and a much larger destination network.

The following comparison keeps the measures separate so a higher on-time rate is not mistaken for a lower cancellation rate or a larger flight network.

• Denver International Airport (DEN) — 76.3% on-time departures, 16.7 minutes average departure delay, 0.8% cancelled, 632,580 departures, 195 destinations, and 10 airlines.
• City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport (COS) — 80.9% on-time departures, 16.6 minutes average departure delay, 1.2% cancelled, 26,183 departures, 19 destinations, and 7 airlines.

When should the historical winner change the airport choice?

Colorado Springs had the higher historical on-time rate, but its cancellation rate was higher and its network far smaller. Denver is often the only airport offering a convenient nonstop or multiple later departures. When a comparable Colorado Springs itinerary exists, its on-time-rate advantage is a sound tie-breaker; otherwise, Denver’s network may be more useful.

The term “on time” follows FlightRecord’s methodology: a flight arriving less than 15 minutes late. This guide reports departure-side airport measures, so it should not be read as an arrival guarantee.

How should travelers choose between Denver and Colorado Springs airports?

Use the airport comparison after narrowing the decision to real, bookable flights. These three checks keep a broad historical average in the right role.

• 1. Separate on-time performance from cancellation risk: Colorado Springs led on the first metric, while Denver led on the second.
• 2. Use Colorado Springs’ higher on-time rate when both airports have a comparable nonstop option and airport access is acceptable.
• 3. Do not overlook Denver’s 195-destination network if schedule flexibility or a same-day backup flight is important.

How were these airport delay figures calculated?

FlightRecord analyzed 14,111,289 U.S. domestic flight records from 2024-06 through 2026-05—a 24-month period. The site aggregates the Bureau of Transportation Statistics’ Airline On-Time Statistics by airport, rather than presenting a live feed. The federal source reports scheduled and actual times, cancellations, diversions, and airport- and airline-level statistics.

For definitions, sample rules, and limitations, read FlightRecord’s full methodology. Historical performance does not guarantee that a future flight will be on time.

Frequently asked questions

Is Colorado Springs Airport more reliable than Denver International?

Colorado Springs recorded an 80.9% on-time departure rate, compared with 76.3% at Denver International, in FlightRecord’s June 2024–May 2026 data. Denver had a lower cancellation rate and far more destinations, so reliability depends on the metric and the itinerary a traveler can actually book.

Why are the average delay figures nearly the same?

Colorado Springs averaged a 16.6-minute departure delay and Denver averaged 16.7 minutes in the dataset, despite Colorado Springs’ higher on-time rate. Average delay and the share of flights on time summarize different aspects of the delay distribution, so both should be read together.

Which airport has more nonstop options, Denver or Colorado Springs?

Denver served 195 destinations in FlightRecord’s data, compared with 19 from Colorado Springs. That does not identify which airport serves every individual route, but it shows Denver’s much broader network and potential advantage when multiple flights or carriers are needed.

Are these delay rates a forecast for winter travel?

No. These are all-season historical figures for June 2024 through May 2026, not a seasonal forecast. Travelers should check their airline and FAA updates for current weather and operating conditions before relying on any historical average.