Best Time to Fly DEN to RAP: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Denver International → Rapid City Regional
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
2,867 flights were scheduled from Denver (DEN) to Rapid City (RAP) in the last 12 months, and 78.1% of those that flew arrived on time, in line with the US average of 77.6%.
Among 2 airlines, SkyWest Airlines led with 78.7% on time and United Airlines was last with 76.3%.
Over 24 months, Tuesday was the most reliable day (80% on time) and June the worst month (67%).
The cancellation rate was 1.0% (US average 1.8%).
DEN to RAP on-time performance by airline
Last 12 months. Airlines with fewer than 30 completed flights are marked “limited data”.
| Airline | On time | Avg delay when late | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SkyWest Airlines | 78.7% | 73 min | 1.2% | 2,104 |
| United Airlines | 76.3% | 63 min | 0.3% | 763 |
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly DEN to RAP
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 5,603 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12am–1am | Limited data | 2 | |
| 7am–8am | 89.1% | 1.6% | 245 |
| 8am–9am | 88.3% | 2.3% | 131 |
| 9am–10am | 79.9% | 2.2% | 362 |
| 10am–11am | 77.1% | 0.0% | 342 |
| 11am–12pm | 83.6% | 0.3% | 728 |
| 1pm–2pm | 81.0% | 1.2% | 667 |
| 2pm–3pm | 72.9% | 1.8% | 284 |
| 3pm–4pm | 77.2% | 1.4% | 649 |
| 4pm–5pm | 71.0% | 0.0% | 31 |
| 5pm–6pm | 68.5% | 1.8% | 721 |
| 6pm–7pm | Limited data | 1 | |
| 7pm–8pm | 69.8% | 0.6% | 721 |
| 8pm–9pm | 76.7% | 1.1% | 563 |
| 9pm–10pm | 65.4% | 0.7% | 154 |
| 11pm–12am | Limited data | 2 | |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on DEN to RAP
On-time arrivals during holiday periods compared with all other days, last 24 months.
| Period | On time | vs other days | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving week (Tue before to Mon after) | 78.1% | -0.9 pts | 0.0% | 96 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 79.7% | +0.7 pts | 0.0% | 189 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 66.9% | -12.1 pts | 1.1% | 1,046 |
| All other days | 79.0% | — | 1.2% | 4,272 |
Monthly on-time trend
On-time arrival % each month, with the 12-month US average for reference.
What causes delays on this route
Share of reported delay minutes, last 12 months (BTS cause categories).