Delta has again landed prominently among the world's leading brands after being named today as one of Fortune magazine's Top 50 Most Admired Companies for the sixth consecutive year.

Delta was also named Fortune's Most Admired Airline, rated No. 1 on the industry list for the eighth time in the past nine years.

The Fortune list is a ranking of the world's most respected and reputable companies, as ranked by their corporate peers.

Delta CEO Ed Bastian credited the award to the dedication of the airline's 80,000-person workforce. "This recognition is an extraordinary accomplishment, and it is the direct result of your dedication, hard work and passion for serving our customers and each other," he wrote in a memo to all employees. "Together we are achieving results that have never before been seen in our industry. And the world is taking notice."

Each year, Fortune surveys executives and directors across all industries to rank the companies they most admire in nine areas such as innovation, people management and financial soundness, as well as an overall reputation. Fortune editors compile the data and publish a list of the Most Admired Companies. Delta is ranked No. 28 this year – its highest-ever overall ranking.

The airline rankings are based on the results of a global survey of industry executives, boards of directors and analysts who are asked to rate companies in their industry based on criteria including innovation, investment value and global competitiveness.

Most Admired Companies is just the latest accolade for Delta. The airline was recently named the Wall Street Journal's top U.S. airline for the second consecutive year, 2018's Most On-Time International Mainline Airline, a Fortune Magazine 100 Best Companies to Work For, a Fast Company "Most Innovative Company" and more.

What makes Delta a most admired company?

Companies are ranked by leaders across industries on the following attributes, as well as their overall reputation. Delta ranked No. 1 in eight of the nine categories among airlines:

• Innovation
• People Management
• Use of Corporate Assets
• Quality of Management
• Social Responsibility
• Financial Soundness
• Long-Term Investment Value
• Quality of Products and Services
• Global Competitiveness