Missoula (MSO) to Denver (DEN): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Missoula (MSO) to Denver (DEN) effectively runs on two schedules. In October 2024, 91% of arrivals were on time; in May 2025 that fell to 66% — a 26-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 79% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (89% vs 71%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 79%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 20 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.9%
- Flights/day
- 3.3
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 9m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 679 mi
Best airline from MSO to DEN
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlinesmost reliable | 81% | 17 min | 0.8% | 1,692 |
| Frontier Airlines | 75% | 18 min | 1.2% | 85 |
| SkyWest Airlines | 73% | 27 min | 1.0% | 762 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from MSO to DEN
Aim for departures around 10 a.m. (90% on-time); avoid 5 p.m. departures (70%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 74% | 20 min |
| Tuesday | 81% | 20 min |
| Wednesday | 80% | 16 min |
| Thursday | 78% | 22 min |
| Friday | 77% | 19 min |
| Saturdaybest | 81% | 20 min |
| Sunday | 80% | 22 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft23%
- Airline operations37%
- National airspace system33%
- Weather8%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from MSO to DEN delayed?
- 22% of MSO–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 20 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from MSO to DEN?
- United Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 81%, based on 1,692 flights. 3 airlines flew MSO–DEN frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from MSO to DEN?
- Departures around 10 a.m. have the best record (90% on-time), while departures around 5 p.m. have the worst (70%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from MSO to DEN?
- The scheduled MSO–DEN flight time averages 2h 9m over 679 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 22% of the time.
- How often are MSO to DEN flights cancelled?
- 0.9% 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 MSO to DEN?
- May 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 66% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 91%. If your dates are flexible, that 26-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 2,539 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.