Revolutionizing Passenger Wellness with Customizable Cabin Lighting
Qantas is set to introduce a groundbreaking lighting design on its upcoming Project Sunrise flights, the longest non-stop commercial flights connecting Australia directly with London and New York. This innovative approach utilizes customizable cabin lighting to help mitigate the effects of jet lag, enhancing passenger comfort and wellbeing during ultra-long-haul journeys. The strategic lighting system is inspired by the vibrant colors of the Australian landscape and is scientifically designed to support passengers’ circadian rhythms.
Over 150 hours of meticulous testing and development were conducted at the Airbus Customer Definition Center in Hamburg, involving a collaborative effort between Qantas, Airbus, the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre, and Caon Design Office. This extensive research involved creating and testing hundreds of lighting patterns and sequences using an Airbus A350 cabin mockup to determine the most effective lighting environments for managing jet lag.
The custom lighting sequences include simulations of natural events like sunsets and sunrises, tailored to the passengers’ destination time zones. These sequences are not only aesthetically pleasing but are grounded in circadian science, aiming to regulate the body’s internal clock through strategic light exposure. By manipulating the timing, intensity, and wavelengths of light during the flight, the design assists in adjusting passengers’ body clocks to the destination time zone, thereby reducing jet lag.
Scientific Foundation and Implementation of Lighting Strategy
Research from the Charles Perkins Centre underscores the significance of light in controlling our circadian rhythms. Based on circadian rhythm models, the Centre provided insights on the optimal spectral irradiances for light, which promote circadian adaptation to the sleep-wake cycle. These recommendations were integrated into the lighting design during the workshops in Hamburg and fine-tuned for visual comfort and overall cabin ambiance.
The result is a series of 12 unique lighting scenes specifically crafted for the Project Sunrise flights. These include scenes named ‘Awake’, which features broad-spectrum, blue-enriched lighting to help passengers adjust to the new time zone and maintain alertness. The ‘Sunset’ and ‘Sunrise’ scenes provide dynamic transitions that mimic natural daylight cycles, aiding in relaxation and wakefulness respectively. Additional scenes are designed for different phases of the flight, including boarding, taxiing, take-off, landing, and sleeping.
According to Cam Wallace, CEO of Qantas International, this scientifically informed approach to cabin lighting is a critical component of Project Sunrise, which aims to redefine the inflight experience. The comprehensive strategy not only includes advanced lighting but also features specially designed meal plans and a movement program to further enhance passenger wellbeing and minimize jet lag.
The introduction of this innovative lighting technology on the Airbus A350, along with the certification of additional fuel tanks, marks a significant milestone in bringing Project Sunrise flights closer to realization, promising an unprecedented level of comfort on non-stop flights from Australia’s east coast to major global hubs.