Qantas Introduces Scientifically-Inspired Cabin Lighting to Combat Jetlag on Ultra-Long-Haul Flights

Qantas has developed unique cabin lighting inspired by Australian landscapes and informed by scientific research to combat jetlag on its upcoming Project Sunrise ultra-long-haul flights. This innovative design is the result of over 150 hours of testing at the Airbus Customer Definition Centre in Hamburg, involving representatives from Qantas, Airbus, the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre, and Caon Design Office.

The Charles Perkins Centre’s research, based on state-of-the-art circadian rhythm modelling, advised on the optimal spectral irradiances for promoting circadian adaptation, sleep, and wakefulness. This guidance was used to create and test lighting sequences in a mockup of an Airbus A350 cabin.

The result is a series of 12 unique lighting scenes tailored for Project Sunrise flights, including:

“Awake”: Broad-spectrum, blue-enriched lighting to help passengers adjust to the destination time zone and stay awake.
“Sunset”: Lighting transitions from day to night, moving through sunset colors to a night sky with moonlight, designed to relax passengers and prepare them for sleep.
“Sunrise”: Dynamic lighting that mimics an Australian sunrise, helping passengers transition from night to day.

The lighting system includes tailored scenes for boarding, disembarking, taxi, take-off, landing, and sleep, enhancing the overall travel experience. Additionally, the Wellbeing Zone features soft blue-enriched light during the day and a moonlight-inspired scene with water ripple reflections for relaxation during dark periods.

For the first time, Qantas’ six enclosed First Suites offer fully customizable lighting sequences, allowing passengers to choose their preferred time zone for the duration of the flight.

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Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace emphasized that the scientifically informed lighting design is crucial for preparing for Project Sunrise flights, aiming to improve passenger wellbeing and reduce jetlag effects. The lighting design complements other inflight strategies, such as specialized meal planning and movement programs.

David Caon, the Australian Industrial Designer, highlighted the significance of light cycles in setting the body clock, noting that the workshops aimed to create a beautiful ambiance guided by circadian science and design principles. The collaboration with the Charles Perkins Centre, Airbus, and Caon Design Studios has resulted in a tailored lighting sequence that enhances passenger wellbeing.

Joost van der Heijden, SVP & Global Head of Marketing at Airbus Commercial Aircraft, praised the A350 Airspace cabin’s advanced LED lighting system, which offers over 16 million color combinations, enabling airlines to fully customize their offerings. He stated that Qantas has utilized this system to create science-based lighting effects that will help passengers adapt to changing time zones.

Dr. Sveta Postnova from the Charles Perkins Centre expressed satisfaction with seeing circadian science being applied in practice, noting that the new lighting scenarios were developed to optimize circadian effects while considering light appearance, ambiance, safety, and hardware requirements.

The customized lighting schemes were unveiled at Airbus’ Airspace Customer Showroom in Toulouse, showcasing a life-size mock-up of the Project Sunrise Wellbeing Zone. This Wellbeing Zone, located between the Premium Economy and Economy cabins, features sculpted wall panels, integrated stretch handles, an on-screen exercise program, a hydration station, and a range of refreshments. The Wellbeing Zone was recognized at the Crystal Cabin Awards in the ‘Passenger Comfort’ category on the specially designed A350.

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