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Route on-time record

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

Denver (Denver International Airport) to Santa Barbara (Santa Barbara Municipal Airport). 1,121 nonstop flights in Jun 2025 to May 2026, 75% arrived within 15 minutes and 0.6% were cancelled. The most reliable flight number was United 671 at 11:30 AM.

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

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DEN → SBA

Denver to Santa Barbara: 1,121 nonstop flights a year

On time (12 months)

75%

Cancelled

0.6%

avg delay 15 min

Best time to leave

9 AM to noon

82% on time vs 67% 6 to 9 PM

Most reliable airline

United

75% chance on time

Check DEN to SBA 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 · United 671

    11:30 AM → 1:14 PM2h 45m nonstop

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

    82%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    82%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    11 min
    • Arrived on time 82% of the time (279 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Never cancelled in 282 scheduled flights.
    • Leaves in this route's most on-time window (9 AM to noon: 82% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 67%).
    • Departs outside DEN's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 79% of its 174 ground stops and delay programs started).

    Strong track record · 279 flights

    Find United 671 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  2. #2 · United 2479

    7:40 PM → 9:23 PM2h 43m nonstop

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

    69%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    66%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    14 min
    • Arrived on time 66% of the time (64 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Never cancelled in 64 scheduled flights.
    • Leaves in this route's least on-time window (6 to 9 PM: 67% on time; 9 AM to noon: 82%).
    • Departs inside DEN's trouble window: 79% of its 174 ground stops and delay programs started between 2 PM and 8 PM.

    Moderate track record · 64 flights

    Find United 2479 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  3. #3 · Southwest 1544

    8:50 PM → 10:30 PM2h 40m nonstop

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

    66%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    60%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    26 min
    • Arrived on time 60% of the time (47 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Never cancelled in 47 scheduled flights.
    • Leaves in this route's least on-time window (6 to 9 PM: 67% on time; 9 AM to noon: 82%).
    • Departs outside DEN's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 79% of its 174 ground stops and delay programs started).

    Limited track record · 47 flights

    Find Southwest 1544 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

Airlines on this route

Season-adjusted chance of operating and arriving on time.

  • United Airlines75%

    857 flights · 76% on time as flown · 0.8% cancel

  • Southwest Airlines74%

    264 flights · 74% on time as flown · 0.2% cancel

On time by departure time

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

  • 9 AM to noon82%

    419 flights · avg delay 11 min

  • Noon to 3 PM81%

    157 flights · avg delay 11 min

  • 3 to 6 PM79%

    97 flights · avg delay 13 min

  • 6 to 9 PM67%

    423 flights · avg delay 21 min

Best day: Tuesday (82%). Worst: Friday (75%).

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
80
F
74
M
84
A
78
M
71
J
69
J
71
A
76
S
81
O
80
N
83
D
87

What delays this route

  • Late-arriving aircraft53%
  • Airline (crew, maintenance, boarding)31%
  • Air traffic control and airport volume15%

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

Finding the most reliable connections from DEN to SBA…

DEN to SBA questions

What time of day is best to fly DEN to SBA?
9 AM to noon: 82% of flights arrived on time, against 67% for departures 6 to 9 PM.
Which airline is most on time from DEN to SBA?
United, with a season-adjusted 75% chance of operating and arriving on time over 857 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 SBA?
June (69% on time); the best was December (87%), 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

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Live status: FAA delays and ground stops