Memphis (MEM) to Denver (DEN): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
When you fly MEM to DEN matters as much as anything else about the booking: the route swung from 95% on-time in October 2024 to just 60% in June 2025. Across the full period the route averages 79% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (85% vs 66%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 79%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 17 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.8%
- Flights/day
- 3.6
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 39m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 872 mi
Best airline from MEM to DEN
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlinesmost reliable | 80% | 17 min | 1.2% | 1,457 |
| Southwest Airlines | 79% | 13 min | 0.4% | 814 |
| Frontier Airlines | 71% | 25 min | 0.4% | 270 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from MEM to DEN
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (94% on-time); avoid 5 p.m. departures (57%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 80% | 16 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 81% | 15 min |
| Wednesday | 80% | 14 min |
| Thursday | 75% | 20 min |
| Friday | 77% | 17 min |
| Saturday | 80% | 18 min |
| Sunday | 77% | 15 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft32%
- Airline operations30%
- National airspace system33%
- Weather5%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from MEM to DEN delayed?
- 22% of MEM–DEN 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 17 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from MEM to DEN?
- United Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 80%, based on 1,457 flights. 3 airlines flew MEM–DEN frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from MEM to DEN?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (94% on-time), while departures around 5 p.m. have the worst (57%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from MEM to DEN?
- The scheduled MEM–DEN flight time averages 2h 39m over 872 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 22% of the time.
- How often are MEM to DEN flights cancelled?
- 0.8% 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 MEM to DEN?
- June 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 60% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 95%. If your dates are flexible, that 35-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 2,542 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.