Delta ranks No. 11 on Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies list

Delta secured the 11^th spot on Fortune’s list of World’s Most Admired Companies, achieving the honor for the 13^th year in a row. 

“Fortune is proud to celebrate the companies on this year’s World’s Most Admired Companies list; they have set the bar for real innovation, resilient leadership, and global impact,” said Alyson Shontell, Fortune’s Editor in Chief and Chief Content Officer. “As rapidly advancing technologies such as AI transform entire industries, these organizations stand out for their ability to evolve with purpose and foresight, consistently shaping the path forward for global business, and the future of how we work and lead.”

Delta’s safe, reliable service and culture of care continue to earn the trust of millions, all thanks to the dedication of Delta people. 

“I could not be more proud of Delta people for continuing to go above and beyond to deliver the level of world-class service customers have come to expect from us,” said Delta CEO Ed Bastian. “This recognition belongs to our team of the world’s best aviation professionals whose commitment to excellence allows Delta to keep climbing.” 

While the airline celebrated its 100-year history throughout 2025, Delta people also brought substantial investments to life, elevating and transforming the travel experience for customers with:    

• Industry-leading connectivity & inflight entertainment: Delta recently installed fast, free Delta Sync Wi-Fi presented by T-Mobile on its 1,000th aircraft, representing ~75% of the total fleet. New partnerships with YouTube and Crunchyroll also came on board, giving SkyMiles Members and customers even more ways to enjoy their time in the air and beyond.
• Improved app experience: The Delta app’s 7.0 and 7.5 releases brought enhancements like real-time flight updates, personalized notifications, self-service  capabilities and more.
• New AI innovation: The initial beta launch of Delta Concierge, an AI-powered assistant in the app, delivered real-time, personalized support to SkyMiles Members. Delta’s Baggage AI uses real-time flight data, bag locations and connection times to create optimized routes for drivers, delivering a nearly 30% improvement in bag transfers and stronger overall baggage-handling performance.
• Onboard dining enhancements: From a new collaboration with chef José Andrés and an exclusive onboard partnership with luxury Champagne brand Taittinger, to offering and expanding Shake Shack in the sky, Delta continues to transform its in-flight dining into something that feels more like a restaurant experience.
• Lounge openings & expansions: 2025 was a big year for Delta Sky Club, with a Delta One Lounge and Delta Sky Club debut in SEA; two additional new Delta Sky Clubs in ATL and SLC; and Club expansions in MCO and PHL.
• Expanded route map: Delta charted new routes and strengthened key U.S. gateways, with new or expanded service to Melbourne, Marrakech, Lima, Seoul-Incheon, its largest-ever trans-Atlantic summer schedule and more.
• Sustainability wins: Delta made meaningful progress toward its decarbonization goals in 2025, including investing in next-generation aircraft, improving operational efficiency and scaling sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
• Elevated ground experience: Delta further improved the ground experience for customers, with Delta One Check-In at every U.S. hub offering Delta One service, TSA PreCheck Touchless ID launching in all hubs and tech enhancements like One Stop Security simplifying international connections. Plus, Delta is reimagining the airport drop-off experience with partner Uber, with new Delta x Uber Preferred Drop Off experiences launching at LGA and ATL.

Delta is consistently recognized for industry excellence, recently being named the top on-time airline in North America by Cirium for the fifth consecutive year, achieving the No. 15 spot on the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For® list and placing No. 2 on Forbes list of World’s Best Employers 2025.

HOW FORTUNE DETERMINES THE MOST ADMIRED COMPANIES

Fortune’s list is based on a survey conducted with Korn Ferry. Starting with about 1,500 candidates, the list was narrowed to 685 top-revenue companies across 31 countries. 

To determine the best-regarded companies, Korn Ferry asked executives, directors and analysts to rate companies within their industry on nine criteria, including management quality, product quality, social responsibility and talent attraction. A company’s score must rank in the top half of its industry survey to be listed.

To select the top 50, Korn Ferry asked senior executives, directors and industry analysts to select the 10 companies they admired most and rank each one on various attributes. They chose from a list made up of the companies that ranked in the top 25% in last year’s surveys; ranked in the top 3 within their industry the previous year (top 4 for non-U.S. companies); or a company that ranked among the top 50 All-Stars last year and did not make any of the above cuts. Anyone could vote for any company in any industry.