Denver (DEN) to Salt Lake City (SLC): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Denver (DEN) to Salt Lake City (SLC) effectively runs on two schedules. In September 2024, 86% of arrivals were on time; in July 2025 that fell to 59% — a 27-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 78% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (86% vs 67%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 78%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 15 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.5%
- Flights/day
- 21
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 37m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 391 mi
Best airline from DEN to SLC
5 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Linesmost reliable | 82% | 16 min | 0.5% | 3,313 |
| United Airlines | 79% | 14 min | 0.4% | 2,646 |
| SkyWest Airlines | 77% | 17 min | 0.7% | 2,753 |
| Frontier Airlines | 77% | 16 min | 0.6% | 2,030 |
| Southwest Airlines | 74% | 14 min | 0.4% | 4,881 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DEN to SLC
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (94% on-time); avoid 9 p.m. departures (63%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 77% | 16 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 81% | 14 min |
| Wednesday | 79% | 13 min |
| Thursday | 77% | 14 min |
| Friday | 75% | 16 min |
| Saturday | 79% | 15 min |
| Sunday | 74% | 18 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft47%
- Airline operations37%
- National airspace system12%
- Weather4%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DEN to SLC delayed?
- 23% of DEN–SLC 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 15 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from DEN to SLC?
- Delta Air Lines has the best on-time record on this route at 82%, based on 3,313 flights. 5 airlines flew DEN–SLC frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DEN to SLC?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (94% on-time), while departures around 9 p.m. have the worst (63%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from DEN to SLC?
- The scheduled DEN–SLC flight time averages 1h 37m over 391 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 23% of the time.
- How often are DEN to SLC flights cancelled?
- 0.5% 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 SLC?
- July 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 59% of arrivals on time. The best was September 2024 at 86%. If your dates are flexible, that 27-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 15,623 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.