Denver (DEN) to New York (LGA): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
When you fly DEN to LGA matters as much as anything else about the booking: the route swung from 87% on-time in September 2024 to just 58% in July 2025. Across the full period the route averages 72% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (80% vs 60%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 72%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 19 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 2.0%
- Flights/day
- 13
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 3h 45m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,620 mi
Best airline from DEN to LGA
4 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Linesmost reliable | 76% | 20 min | 3.3% | 2,165 |
| United Airlines | 74% | 18 min | 1.2% | 4,162 |
| Southwest Airlines | 69% | 20 min | 1.9% | 2,968 |
| Frontier Airlines | 63% | 25 min | 3.3% | 366 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DEN to LGA
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (92% on-time); avoid 5 p.m. departures (60%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 72% | 21 min |
| Tuesday | 74% | 19 min |
| Wednesday | 72% | 19 min |
| Thursday | 71% | 21 min |
| Friday | 72% | 21 min |
| Saturdaybest | 80% | 11 min |
| Sunday | 69% | 22 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft29%
- Airline operations30%
- National airspace system39%
- Weather3%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DEN to LGA delayed?
- 28% of DEN–LGA flights arrived 15 or more minutes late (the US DOT definition of a delay) between 2024-07 and 2026-07. The average arrival delay across completed flights was 19 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from DEN to LGA?
- Delta Air Lines has the best on-time record on this route at 76%, based on 2,165 flights. 4 airlines flew DEN–LGA frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DEN to LGA?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (92% on-time), while departures around 5 p.m. have the worst (60%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from DEN to LGA?
- The scheduled DEN–LGA flight time averages 3h 45m over 1,620 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 28% of the time.
- How often are DEN to LGA flights cancelled?
- 2% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07, slightly above the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from DEN to LGA?
- July 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 58% of arrivals on time. The best was September 2024 at 87%. If your dates are flexible, that 29-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 9,661 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.