Assessing the performance of airlines is vital in the aviation industry, as it affects multiple stakeholders, including airlines, travelers, regulatory authorities, and investors. It is known as a key driver of growth and sustainability in the aviation sector. Hence, the main aim of the current study is to utilize the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) through Q-methodology within the Neutral Cross Efficiency Method (referred to as QNCEM) as an innovative technique to provide an assessment framework for airlines. QNCEM offers policymakers numerous advantages as it permits the elimination of irrelevant perspectives during the assessment process, enables the determination of each Decision-Maker’s (DM) contribution, and plays a crucial role in achieving consensus by leveraging factor analysis to extract perspectives that are representative of the group’s opinions. In this research, the efficiency of 17 Iranian airlines is assessed using QNCEM, considering both desirable and undesirable outputs, such as flight delays, demonstrating its practicality and effectiveness. The selection of a loading factor of 0.626 allowed QNCEM to encompass a comprehensive range of viewpoints from 17 DMs. This deliberate choice ensures the inclusion of a diverse set of perspectives, maximizing the richness of the analysis and explaining a cumulative variance of more than 96%.