Denver (DEN) to Richmond (RIC): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Denver (DEN) to Richmond (RIC) effectively runs on two schedules. In February 2025, 89% of arrivals were on time; in July 2025 that fell to 31% — a 58-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 67% on-time against a national 78%.
- On-time
- 67%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 22 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.7%
- Flights/day
- 2.0
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 3h 21m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,481 mi
Best airline from DEN to RIC
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlinesmost reliable | 72% | 20 min | 0.5% | 739 |
| Southwest Airlines | 59% | 26 min | 0.9% | 573 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DEN to RIC
Aim for departures around 12 p.m. (80% on-time); avoid 6 p.m. departures (45%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 65% | 19 min |
| Tuesday | 69% | 25 min |
| Wednesday | 68% | 21 min |
| Thursday | 67% | 22 min |
| Friday | 62% | 27 min |
| Saturday | 66% | 19 min |
| Sundaybest | 73% | 21 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft52%
- Airline operations29%
- National airspace system18%
- Weather1%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DEN to RIC delayed?
- 33% of DEN–RIC flights arrived 15 or more minutes late (the US DOT definition of a delay) between 2024-06 and 2026-05. The average arrival delay across completed flights was 22 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from DEN to RIC?
- United Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 72%, based on 739 flights. 2 airlines flew DEN–RIC frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DEN to RIC?
- Departures around 12 p.m. have the best record (80% on-time), while departures around 6 p.m. have the worst (45%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from DEN to RIC?
- The scheduled DEN–RIC flight time averages 3h 21m over 1,481 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 33% of the time.
- How often are DEN to RIC flights cancelled?
- 0.7% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from DEN to RIC?
- July 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 31% of arrivals on time. The best was February 2025 at 89%. If your dates are flexible, that 58-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 1,365 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.