65% of flights from Denver to Oakland arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is worse than the typical U.S. route. The 8 a.m. departures ran on time 87% of the time; the 10 p.m. ones 47%. 10% of flights arrived more than an hour late or not at all.
How late?
The on-time rate treats a flight 20 minutes late the same as one 5 hours late. Here's the split for DEN → OAK: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 61% of the time. About 1 in 11 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 147 three hours or more; 0.8% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early65%
- 15–30 min late14%
- 30–60 min late11%
- 1–2 hours late6.8%
- 2–3 hours late1.7%
- 3+ hours late0.7%
- Diverted0.0%
- Cancelled0.8%
Share of all 1,613 scheduled flights, past 12 months, by arrival time against schedule.
By airline
| Airline | Flights | On time | Cancelled | Typical arrival | 1h+ late | Avg when late | Operated by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Airlines | 1,613 | 65% | 0.8% | +5 min | 9.1% | +49 min | Southwest Airlines |
Airline = the name on the ticket. Regional flights (e.g. "Delta Connection") count under the ticketing airline, and the operator is listed.
Best time of day to fly
On-time rate by scheduled departure hour (local time at DEN). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
Last flight of the day
On DEN → OAK, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 1.4% of the time, against 0.6% for its earlier flights (2.1× as often). It arrived 3+ hours late 0.5% of the time (earlier flights: 0.7%). It matters more than the numbers suggest. Miss an earlier flight and there's another one that evening; miss the last one and you're usually waiting until morning.
| Airline | Last departure | Last: cancelled | Last: 3h+ late | Earlier: cancelled | Next morning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Airlines | 9:50 p.m. | 1.4% | 0.5% | 0.6% | first flight 8:05 a.m. |
Last flight = the airline's last scheduled departure on this route that day, on days it flies the route at least twice; past 12 months. Times are typical scheduled times over the latest three months.
If you need to be in OAK tonight, book an earlier flight so there's a backup if it's cancelled.
By month
Each calendar month pooled over 2023–2026. Best: November (78%). Worst: June (55%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 238 | 60% | 0.8% |
| Tuesday | 228 | 67% | 0.9% |
| Wednesday | 224 | 67% | 0.9% |
| Thursday | 229 | 62% | 0.9% |
| Friday | 233 | 66% | 1.3% |
| Saturday | 220 | 68% | 0.4% |
| Sunday | 241 | 66% | 0.4% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: airline 6 · air traffic/airport 6 · weather 1
Month by month
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 27, 2026 | 5 | 0% | 0 |
| Jun 26, 2026 | 5 | 0% | 0 |
| Oct 27, 2025 | 5 | 0% | 0 |
| Jun 10, 2026 | 5 | 0% | 0 |
| Mar 6, 2026 | 4 | 0% | 0 |
Nearby airport alternatives
Other ways to make the same trip, using airports within 60 miles of Denver or Oakland. DEN → SJC has been 8 points more reliable.
| Route | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEN → OAK (this route) | 1,613 | 65% | 0.8% |
| DEN → SJC Denver to San Jose | 2,547 | 73% | 0.4% |
| DEN → SFO Denver to San Francisco | 5,488 | 63% | 0.4% |
Questions
How often are flights from DEN to OAK on time?
65% of 1,613 scheduled flights from Denver, CO to Oakland, CA arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 0.8% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly DEN to OAK?
Flights scheduled to leave at 8 a.m. were the most reliable (87% on time). The 10 p.m. departures were the least (47%).
What month has the most delays from DEN to OAK?
June (55% on time). The best month is November (78%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from DEN to OAK more likely to be cancelled?
Yes. Each airline's last DEN–OAK flight of the day was cancelled 1.4% of the time over the past year, against 0.6% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- OAK → DEN (return)
- Denver (DEN) delays by hour
- Flights into Oakland (OAK)
- Southwest Airlines on-time record
- Connecting off this flight? Check the risk
Domestic flights by the airlines that report to the U.S. DOT, plus their regional partners. "On time" means arriving less than 15 minutes after schedule; cancelled and diverted flights count as not on time. Past performance is a guide, not a forecast. Method.