Denver (DEN) to San Jose (SJC): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Denver (DEN) to San Jose (SJC) effectively runs on two schedules. In November 2025, 89% of arrivals were on time; in June 2026 that fell to 54% — a 35-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 76% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (86% vs 63%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 76%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 15 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.3%
- Flights/day
- 7.0
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 39m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 948 mi
Best airline from DEN to SJC
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frontier Airlinesmost reliable | 82% | 9 min | 0.4% | 263 |
| United Airlines | 80% | 14 min | 0.2% | 2,388 |
| Southwest Airlines | 72% | 16 min | 0.4% | 3,277 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DEN to SJC
Aim for departures around 8 a.m. (94% on-time); avoid 6 p.m. departures (53%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 75% | 15 min |
| Tuesday | 78% | 17 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 79% | 14 min |
| Thursday | 76% | 14 min |
| Friday | 74% | 17 min |
| Saturday | 77% | 14 min |
| Sunday | 75% | 16 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft58%
- Airline operations32%
- National airspace system9%
- Weather2%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DEN to SJC delayed?
- 24% of DEN–SJC 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 15 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from DEN to SJC?
- Frontier Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 82%, based on 263 flights. 3 airlines flew DEN–SJC frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DEN to SJC?
- Departures around 8 a.m. have the best record (94% on-time), while departures around 6 p.m. have the worst (53%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from DEN to SJC?
- The scheduled DEN–SJC flight time averages 2h 39m over 948 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 24% of the time.
- How often are DEN to SJC flights cancelled?
- 0.3% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from DEN to SJC?
- June 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 54% of arrivals on time. The best was November 2025 at 89%. If your dates are flexible, that 35-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 5,981 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.