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Route on-time record

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

Santa Barbara (Santa Barbara Municipal Airport) to Denver (Denver International Airport). 1,121 nonstop flights in Jun 2025 to May 2026, 82% arrived within 15 minutes and 1.2% were cancelled. The most reliable flight number was United 2865 at 5:00 AM.

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

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SBA → DEN

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

On time (12 months)

82%

Cancelled

1.2%

avg delay 13 min

Best time to leave

Before 9 AM

93% on time vs 54% 3 to 6 PM

Most reliable airline

United

82% chance on time

Check SBA to DEN 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 2865

    5:00 AM → 8:30 AM2h 30m nonstop

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

    92%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    94%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    8 min
    • Arrived on time 94% of the time (145 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Never cancelled in 145 scheduled flights.
    • Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 93% on time; 3 to 6 PM: 54%).

    Moderate track record · 145 flights

    Find United 2865 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  2. #2 · Southwest 4181

    6:20 AM → 9:40 AM2h 20m nonstop

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

    89%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    96%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    2 min
    • Arrived on time 96% of the time (46 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Never cancelled in 46 scheduled flights.
    • Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 93% on time; 3 to 6 PM: 54%).

    Limited track record · 46 flights

    Find Southwest 4181 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  3. #3 · United 1790

    1:05 PM → 4:38 PM2h 30m nonstop

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

    77%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    80%
    Cancelled
    0.6%
    Avg arrival delay
    15 min
    • Arrived on time 80% of the time (164 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Lands inside DEN's trouble window: 79% of its 174 ground stops and delay programs started between 2 PM and 8 PM.

    Moderate track record · 164 flights

    Find United 1790 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

Airlines on this route

Season-adjusted chance of operating and arriving on time.

  • United Airlines82%

    857 flights · 83% on time as flown · 1.4% cancel

  • Southwest Airlines77%

    264 flights · 78% on time as flown · 0.9% cancel

On time by departure time

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

  • Before 9 AM93%

    448 flights · avg delay 7 min

  • 9 AM to noon86%

    65 flights · avg delay 8 min

  • Noon to 3 PM76%

    456 flights · avg delay 17 min

  • 3 to 6 PM54%

    57 flights · avg delay 38 min

  • 6 to 9 PM75%

    95 flights · avg delay 14 min

Best day: Saturday (88%). Worst: Monday (79%).

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
85
F
88
M
88
A
85
M
82
J
76
J
78
A
82
S
86
O
89
N
87
D
85

What delays this route

  • Air traffic control and airport volume47%
  • Late-arriving aircraft23%
  • Airline (crew, maintenance, boarding)23%
  • Severe weather7%

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 SBA to DEN…

SBA to DEN questions

What time of day is best to fly SBA to DEN?
Before 9 AM: 93% of flights arrived on time, against 54% for departures 3 to 6 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 SBA to DEN?
United, with a season-adjusted 82% 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 SBA to DEN?
June (76% on time); the best was October (89%), 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 SBA

Live status: FAA delays and ground stops