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Route on-time record

DEN to OAK: most on-time flights and the best time to fly

Denver (Denver International Airport) to Oakland (Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport). 1,618 nonstop flights in Jun 2025 to May 2026, 65% arrived within 15 minutes and 0.7% were cancelled. The most reliable flight number was Southwest 1966 at 8:35 AM.

Flying on a specific date? We’ll adjust for the month, the weekday and the forecast.

DEN → OAK

Denver to Oakland: 1,618 nonstop flights a year

On time (12 months)

65%

Cancelled

0.7%

avg delay 20 min

Best time to leave

Before 9 AM

85% on time vs 45% after 9 PM

Most reliable airline

Southwest

65% chance on time

Check DEN to OAK fares

Fares open on our travel partner (Aviasales). Pick the flight number you chose here.

Most reliable nonstop flights

Ranked by the chance the flight operates and arrives within 15 minutes of schedule, from Jun 2025 to May 2026 records.

  1. #1 · Southwest 1966

    8:35 AM → 10:10 AM2h 35m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as Southwest 3949, 863; its record covers all of them.

    81%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    81%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    8 min
    • Arrived on time 81% of the time (106 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Never cancelled in 106 scheduled flights.
    • Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 85% on time; After 9 PM: 45%).
    • Departs outside DEN's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 79% of its 174 ground stops and delay programs started).

    Moderate track record · 106 flights

    Find Southwest 1966 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  2. #2 · Southwest 1696

    1:15 PM → 2:50 PM2h 35m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.

    79%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    93%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    5 min
    • Arrived on time 93% of the time (15 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Departs outside DEN's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 79% of its 174 ground stops and delay programs started).
    • Short track record (15 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.

    Limited track record · 15 flights

    Find Southwest 1696 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  3. #3 · Southwest 2040

    10:50 AM → 12:25 PM2h 35m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-29.

    68%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    65%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    15 min
    • Arrived on time 65% of the time (23 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Departs outside DEN's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 79% of its 174 ground stops and delay programs started).
    • Short track record (23 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.

    Limited track record · 23 flights

    Find Southwest 2040 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  4. #4 · Southwest 1149

    12:15 PM → 1:50 PM2h 35m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-27.

    64%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    60%
    Cancelled
    6.3%
    Avg arrival delay
    11 min
    • Arrived on time 60% of the time (15 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Departs outside DEN's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 79% of its 174 ground stops and delay programs started).
    • Short track record (15 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.

    Limited track record · 15 flights

    Find Southwest 1149 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  5. #5 · Southwest 1926

    8:20 PM → 10:00 PM2h 40m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-01.

    61%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    88%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    9 min
    • Arrived on time 88% of the time (8 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Departs outside DEN's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 79% of its 174 ground stops and delay programs started).
    • Short track record (8 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.

    Limited track record · 8 flights

    Find Southwest 1926 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  6. #6 · Southwest 1049

    12:40 PM → 2:20 PM2h 40m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-06.

    61%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    47%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    44 min
    • Arrived on time 47% of the time (15 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Departs outside DEN's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 79% of its 174 ground stops and delay programs started).
    • Short track record (15 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.

    Limited track record · 15 flights

    Find Southwest 1049 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  7. #7 · Southwest 1518

    4:40 PM → 6:20 PM2h 40m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-30.

    56%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    52%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    22 min
    • Arrived on time 52% of the time (31 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Never cancelled in 31 scheduled flights.
    • Departs inside DEN's trouble window: 79% of its 174 ground stops and delay programs started between 2 PM and 8 PM.
    • 52% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.

    Limited track record · 31 flights

    Find Southwest 1518 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  8. #8 · Southwest 4540

    5:10 PM → 6:50 PM2h 40m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.

    55%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    50%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    20 min
    • Arrived on time 50% of the time (24 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Departs inside DEN's trouble window: 79% of its 174 ground stops and delay programs started between 2 PM and 8 PM.
    • Short track record (24 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.

    Limited track record · 24 flights

    Find Southwest 4540 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  9. #9 · Southwest 1142

    5:40 PM → 7:20 PM2h 40m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-06.

    49%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    27%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    45 min
    • Arrived on time 27% of the time (15 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Departs inside DEN's trouble window: 79% of its 174 ground stops and delay programs started between 2 PM and 8 PM.
    • 65% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.
    • Short track record (15 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.

    Limited track record · 15 flights

    Find Southwest 1142 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  10. #10 · Southwest 1969

    8:55 PM → 10:35 PM2h 40m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as Southwest 2920; its record covers all of them.

    46%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    40%
    Cancelled
    1.1%
    Avg arrival delay
    30 min
    • Arrived on time 40% of the time (87 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Departs outside DEN's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 79% of its 174 ground stops and delay programs started).
    • 59% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.

    Moderate track record · 87 flights

    Find Southwest 1969 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

Airlines on this route

Season-adjusted chance of operating and arriving on time.

  • Southwest Airlines65%

    1,618 flights · 65% on time as flown · 0.7% cancel

On time by departure time

All airlines, scheduled local departure, Jun 2025 to May 2026.

  • Before 9 AM85%

    370 flights · avg delay 7 min

  • 9 AM to noon73%

    158 flights · avg delay 12 min

  • Noon to 3 PM71%

    299 flights · avg delay 16 min

  • 3 to 6 PM58%

    197 flights · avg delay 23 min

  • 6 to 9 PM53%

    416 flights · avg delay 29 min

  • After 9 PM45%

    178 flights · avg delay 35 min

Best day: Tuesday (73%). Worst: Thursday (66%).

Smarter routing

Nearby airports that run more on time

  • DEN → SJC 74% chance on time

    Denver International Airport to Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport · 2,599 flights a year · 29 mi from your airports · yours: 65%

    Rank flightsFares

  • DEN → SFO 68% chance on time

    Denver International Airport to San Francisco International Airport · 5,391 flights a year · 11 mi from your airports · yours: 65%

    Rank flightsFares

Or connect through a calmer hub

  • via SLC (Salt Lake City International Airport)

    69% both legs on time
    • DEN to SLC on time 77%, SLC to OAK on time 90%.
    • SLC rarely gets ground stops (7 in 12 months).
    Rank DEN-SLC flightsRank SLC-OAK flights

Book connections on one ticket and allow at least an hour at the hub. Leg odds are combined as independent, a rough guide.

On time by month

All airlines, Jun 2023 to May 2026. Several years per month, so one stormy season doesn't define a month. Travel-month estimates use this seasonal pattern.

J
76
F
69
M
73
A
73
M
65
J
57
J
60
A
63
S
76
O
75
N
79
D
73

What delays this route

  • Late-arriving aircraft58%
  • Airline (crew, maintenance, boarding)35%
  • Air traffic control and airport volume6%

Share of delay minutes by the cause airlines report to the US DOT.

Historical odds, not a guarantee. Built from the US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics on-time reports (Jun 2025 to May 2026), FAA ground stop and delay program advisories, and 20 years of airport weather observations. Covers US airlines that report to the DOT; schedules are flights operated recently, so confirm times when you book. ATIS Alerts is not affiliated with any airline. Fares are what Aviasales travelers saw in recent searches (USD, one way, 1 adult), not live quotes; the partner site shows the current price. Fare links go to our travel partner and may earn us a commission at no cost to you. Affiliate disclosure

DEN to OAK questions

What time of day is best to fly DEN to OAK?
Before 9 AM: 85% of flights arrived on time, against 45% for departures after 9 PM. Later flights inherit delays from earlier ones, so the first departures of the day usually run best.
Which airline is most on time from DEN to OAK?
Southwest, with a season-adjusted 65% chance of operating and arriving on time over 1,618 flights. The adjustment compares each airline with what the route did in the months it flew, so a carrier that skipped a stormy month gets no free credit.
What is the worst month for delays on DEN to OAK?
June (57% on time); the best was November (79%), averaged over Jun 2023 to May 2026.
Is this a prediction for my flight?
No. These are historical odds from the US DOT on-time reports, FAA advisories and airport weather records. Check your flight status and the FAA delay board on the day you fly.

More routes from DEN

Live status: FAA delays and ground stops