Wild look inside new Qantas plane with new features to prevent jet lag

Qantas is introducing a new feature for passengers taking “ultra-long haul flights” that aims to prevent jet lag.

More than 150 hours of testing went into creating 12 unique lighting scenes inspired by the Australian landscape which have been designed to improve passenger wellbeing.

The process involved the testing of hundreds of lighting patterns and sequences in an Airbus A350 cabin mock-up in a collaboration between representatives from Qantas, Airbus, the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre and Caon Design Office in Hamburg.

Using modelling of circadian rhythms, the Charles Perkins Centre advised on the best “spectral irradiances” to help travellers adjust to new time zones, fall asleep and wake up.

The trial has produced 12 lighting scenes, including three called “awake”, “sunset” and “sunrise”.

“Awake” will help travellers stay awake and adjust to their destinations time zone through

“broad spectrum blue-enriched lighting”, with a softer version available for cabin crew to select based on “cabin mood”.

“Sunset” will relax and prepare customers for sleep through an “immersive” shift from daytime mode to dark mode with a transition between the colours of a sunset into a night sky fit moonlight and a “slow cloud effect”.

A “sunrise” lighting scene will replicate an Australian sunrise rolling from the front of the cabin to the rear to help transition travellers from night to day.

Welcome and farewell lighting scenes will also feature in the main cabin during boarding and disembarking, as well as “tailored” lighting scenes for taxi, takeoff, landing and sleep.

A new wellbeing zone located between premium and economy will feature reflections of water rippling to relax passengers.

Those travelling in one of six enclosed First Suites will be able to customise their lighting and choose the time zone they want for the flight.

Qantas International chief executive officer Cam Wallace said the scientifically designed lighting was a “critical component” in the preparation for Project Sunrise flights.

“One of the things that was clear from the research is the importance of light cycles and brightness in setting the body clock and that was the basis of this testing,” he said.

“Combined with the design of the cabins, specialised meal planning, and the movement program, this unique lighting sequence will help improve our customers’ comfort in the air and minimise their jet lag when they arrive at their destination.”

Australian Industrial designer David Caon said while it may not cross the mind of travellers, the external light cycle of night and day has more impact on an individual’s circadian rhythm and the impact of jet lag than any other factor.

Charles Perkins Centre’s Dr Sveta Postnova said it is “great to see” circadian science being put into practice.

“The new lighting scenarios for A350 were developed to optimise the circadian effects of light at different times during flights while accounting for the light appearance, ambience, safety, and hardware requirements on board. It was a true collaborative effort bringing together the Charles Perkins Centre, Qantas, Airbus and Caon Design Studios,” she said.