Delta tops airline industry list for fourth time in five years

Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) has been named in the top 50 of FORTUNE magazine’s list of the World’s Most Admired Companies for the second consecutive year. Delta was also named the most admired airline for the fourth time in the past five years.

Fortune’s top 50 rankings are based on a survey which asks leaders across all industries to identify the companies they most admire.  The airline rankings are done with the participation of airline executives, board members and industry analysts, who are asked to rate companies in their industry based on set criteria, ranging from innovation to long-term investment value to global competitiveness.

“This is a direct reflection on the people of Delta,” said Delta’s CEO Richard Anderson. “This honor confirms what we have known all along:  Our people, culture and values – our biggest competitive advantages – are admired by business leaders around the globe.”

In 2014, Delta ran the best global operation in the industry, significantly improved its customer satisfaction scores and generated more than $4.5 billion in pre-tax profits, among many other accomplishments.