78% of flights from Milwaukee to Denver arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is about the typical U.S. route. The 5 a.m. departures ran on time 97% of the time; the 6 p.m. ones 54%. Most reliable airline: United Airlines (78%). 7% 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 MKE → DEN: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 58% of the time. About 1 in 16 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 136 three hours or more; 0.4% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early78%
- 15–30 min late7.8%
- 30–60 min late7.1%
- 1–2 hours late4.3%
- 2–3 hours late1.1%
- 3+ hours late0.7%
- Diverted0.3%
- Cancelled0.4%
Share of all 2,310 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 | 1,248 | 78% | 0.6% | −5 min | 5.7% | +56 min | Southwest Airlines |
| United Airlines | 1,021 | 78% | 0.2% | −4 min | 6.6% | +57 min | United Airlines 65%, SkyWest 35% |
| Frontier Airlines | 41 | — | — | — | — | — | Frontier 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 MKE). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
By airline and hour
| Departs | Southwest Airlines | United Airlines |
|---|---|---|
| 5 a.m. | 97% | — |
| 8 a.m. | — | 80% |
| 10 a.m. | 85% | 86% |
| 2 p.m. | — | 81% |
| 4 p.m. | — | 78% |
| 5 p.m. | — | 62% |
| 6 p.m. | 54% | — |
Last flight of the day
On MKE → DEN, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 0.5% of the time, against 0.4% for its earlier flights (1.4× as often). It arrived 3+ hours late 1.2% of the time (earlier flights: 0.4%). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlines | 5:46 p.m. | 0.3% | 1.9% | 0.1% | first flight 8:16 a.m. |
| Southwest Airlines | 6:25 p.m. | 0.8% | 0.5% | 0.6% | first flight 5:20 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 DEN 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 (87%). Worst: August (74%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 369 | 76% | 0.5% |
| Tuesday | 302 | 79% | 0.7% |
| Wednesday | 321 | 77% | 0.3% |
| Thursday | 341 | 78% | 0.3% |
| Friday | 363 | 80% | 0.3% |
| Saturday | 272 | 82% | 0.4% |
| Sunday | 342 | 77% | 0.6% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: weather 5 · airline 4 · air traffic/airport 1
Month by month
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 29, 2025 | 7 | 0% | 1 |
| Jan 25, 2026 | 5 | 0% | 1 |
| Mar 16, 2026 | 6 | 17% | 2 |
| Mar 17, 2026 | 5 | 20% | 1 |
| Dec 3, 2025 | 5 | 20% | 0 |
Questions
How often are flights from MKE to DEN on time?
78% of 2,310 scheduled flights from Milwaukee, WI to Denver, CO arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 0.4% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly MKE to DEN?
Flights scheduled to leave at 5 a.m. were the most reliable (97% on time). The 6 p.m. departures were the least (54%).
Which airline is most on time from MKE to DEN?
United Airlines: 78% of its 1,021 flights on the route arrived on time. Southwest Airlines: 78%.
What month has the most delays from MKE to DEN?
August (74% on time). The best month is November (87%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from MKE to DEN more likely to be cancelled?
Yes. Each airline's last MKE–DEN flight of the day was cancelled 0.5% of the time over the past year, against 0.4% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- DEN → MKE (return)
- General Mitchell (MKE) delays by hour
- Flights into Denver (DEN)
- Southwest Airlines on-time record
- United Airlines on-time record
- Frontier 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.