Mumbai, Sep 1 (PTI): National air-carrier, Air India, has been ranked as the 'Most Trusted Brand' in the aviation sector in the country by the the Economic Times Brand Equity Survey 2010. 

This is the fifth consecutive time that the country's flag-carrier has bagged the honour.

The flag-carrier has also been ranked 28th among the top 50 service brands, ahead of leading banks, insurance companies, food-chains and airlines, an Air India press release said here today. Recently, Air India was presented the Reader's Digest Trusted Brand Gold Award also for the fifth consecutive year.

The Most Trusted Brands Survey, conducted by the Economic Times in collaboration with The Nielsen Company identifies brands that bond with consumers. These brands are not just the most familiar, but those that consumers believe provide quality and reassurance, the release said.

A sample of 8,160 consumers across socio-economic classes, age, income and geography, was surveyed with parameters such as the brand's quality of service, value for money, popularity, confidence and repurchase intent, etc. Air India operates across 113 destinations including 15 international ones across the USA, Europe, Canada, the Far-East and south-east Asia and the Gulf.