Kansas City (MCI) to Denver (DEN): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Kansas City (MCI) to Denver (DEN) effectively runs on two schedules. In December 2024, 89% of arrivals were on time; in June 2025 that fell to 59% — a 30-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 77% 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
- 77%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 16 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.8%
- Flights/day
- 12
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 55m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 533 mi
Best airline from MCI to DEN
4 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SkyWest Airlinesmost reliable | 90% | 11 min | 0.4% | 532 |
| United Airlines | 80% | 14 min | 0.9% | 2,859 |
| Southwest Airlines | 75% | 17 min | 0.8% | 4,879 |
| Frontier Airlines | 71% | 26 min | 0.7% | 549 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from MCI to DEN
Aim for departures around 7 a.m. (95% on-time); avoid 4 p.m. departures (59%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 77% | 18 min |
| Tuesday | 79% | 16 min |
| Wednesday | 78% | 15 min |
| Thursday | 75% | 16 min |
| Friday | 75% | 17 min |
| Saturdaybest | 80% | 13 min |
| Sunday | 77% | 17 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft37%
- Airline operations19%
- National airspace system38%
- Weather6%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from MCI to DEN delayed?
- 23% of MCI–DEN 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 16 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from MCI to DEN?
- SkyWest Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 90%, based on 532 flights. 4 airlines flew MCI–DEN frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from MCI to DEN?
- Departures around 7 a.m. have the best record (95% on-time), while departures around 4 p.m. have the worst (59%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from MCI to DEN?
- The scheduled MCI–DEN flight time averages 1h 55m over 533 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 23% of the time.
- How often are MCI to DEN flights cancelled?
- 0.8% 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 MCI to DEN?
- June 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 59% of arrivals on time. The best was December 2024 at 89%. If your dates are flexible, that 30-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 8,819 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.