Qantas has taken a significant step forward in passenger comfort and well-being by introducing customized cabin lighting inspired by the Australian landscape. This innovative feature, grounded in rigorous scientific research, will debut on the airline’s upcoming Project Sunrise ultra-long-haul flights to reduce jetlag and enhance the overall inflight experience.
Science Meets Innovation: The Genesis of a Revolutionary Lighting System
The development of this cutting-edge lighting system is the culmination of over 150 hours of meticulous testing at the Airbus Customer Definition Centre in Hamburg. Here, representatives from Qantas, Airbus, the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre, and the Caon Design Office collaborated to create and evaluate hundreds of lighting patterns within an Airbus A350 cabin mockup.
Fact sheet – Qantas Wellbeing Zone
The initiative builds on preliminary findings by Qantas and the Charles Perkins Centre last year, which explored how to mitigate jetlag by reshaping the inflight experience. The research focused on state-of-the-art modelling of circadian rhythms, advising on optimal spectral irradiances to promote circadian adaptation, sleep, and wakefulness. These insights were instrumental in shaping the final lighting designs, tailored for eye comfort and visual appeal.
Tailored Lighting Scenes for Optimal Wellbeing
The bespoke lighting sequence for Project Sunrise flights includes 12 unique scenes designed to help passengers adjust to their destination time zones before landing. Key lighting scenes include:
- Awake: Broad-spectrum, blue-enriched lighting to help passengers stay awake and adjust to the destination time zone. A softer version is available to create a calm cabin ambience.
- Sunset: A transformative transition from daytime to nighttime lighting, mimicking a sunset with moonlight and slow cloud effects to relax passengers and prepare them for sleep.
- Sunrise: Dynamic lighting that simulates an Australian sunrise, rolling from the front to the rear of the cabin, easing passengers into a new day.
Additional lighting scenes are designed for boarding, disembarking, taxiing, take-off, landing, and sleeping. The Wellbeing Zone, a new feature on these flights, will offer soft blue-enriched light during the day and a moonlit ambience with water reflections at night.
In a first for Qantas, the six enclosed First Suites will provide fully customizable lighting, allowing passengers to select their preferred time zone for the duration of the flight.
Expert Insights and Collaborative Efforts
Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace emphasized the significance of the scientifically informed lighting design as a key component of Project Sunrise flights, which will connect Australia’s east coast non-stop with London and New York.
“These world-first flights have allowed us to work with experts and leverage our long-haul flying experience to rethink the inflight journey, focusing on customer wellbeing and combating jetlag,” Wallace said. “The research underscored the importance of light cycles and brightness in setting the body clock, which formed the basis of this testing. Alongside specialized meal planning and movement programs, this unique lighting sequence will enhance customer comfort and minimize jetlag.”
Australian Industrial Designer David Caon highlighted the extensive design process spanning over five years. “Aircraft lighting might not be top of mind for most travelers, but the external light cycle of night and day profoundly impacts our circadian rhythm and jetlag. The Charles Perkins Centre provided optimal spectral irradiances for wake and sleep, guiding us to craft a beautiful ambiance informed by science and exceptional design principles.”
Recognition and Future Implications
The innovative lighting system has garnered acclaim, with Qantas unveiling the customized schemes at Airbus’ Airspace Customer Showroom in Toulouse. The Wellbeing Zone, a pioneering feature between the Premium Economy and Economy cabins, includes sculpted wall panels, integrated stretch handles, an on-screen exercise program, a hydration station, and a range of refreshments. This zone recently won the ‘Passenger Comfort’ category at the Crystal Cabin Awards, recognizing its contribution to enhancing passenger comfort on the specially designed A350.
Joost van der Heijden, SVP & Global Head Of Marketing at Airbus Commercial Aircraft, praised the project: “Qantas has fully utilized our state-of-the-art LED lighting system, which offers over 16 million color combinations. This science-based lighting will help passengers adapt to changing time zones, contributing to their well-being on the world’s longest commercial flights.”
Dr. Sveta Postnova from the Charles Perkins Centre echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the collaborative nature of the project. “The new lighting scenarios for the A350 were developed to optimize the circadian effects of light during flights, balancing appearance, ambiance, safety, and hardware requirements. This collaboration between the Charles Perkins Centre, Qantas, Airbus, and Caon Design Studios represents a true integration of circadian science into practical application.”
Qantas’ introduction of scientifically designed cabin lighting on Project Sunrise flights marks a significant advancement in aviation, prioritizing passenger well-being through innovative design. This initiative sets a new standard for inflight comfort and underscores the airline’s commitment to leveraging scientific research to enhance the travel experience.
Written by: Christine Nguyen
