Qantas is set to unveil unique, customizable cabin lighting inspired by Australian landscapes and grounded in scientific research on its Project Sunrise ultra-long-haul flights. This lighting design aims to minimize jetlag and enhance passenger wellbeing.
The design was developed over 150 hours of testing in Hamburg’s Airbus Customer Definition Centre, involving Qantas, Airbus, the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre, and Caon Design Office. The team tested hundreds of lighting patterns and sequences in an Airbus A350 cabin mockup to determine the optimal lighting for circadian adaptation, sleep, and wakefulness.
The Charles Perkins Centre provided insights on the ideal spectral irradiances for light to promote circadian adaptation. These recommendations were implemented and adjusted for eye comfort and appearance during the workshops.
The result is 12 unique lighting scenes tailored for Project Sunrise flights, including:
– “Awake”: Blue-enriched lighting to help passengers adjust to the destination time zone.
– “Sunset”: A transition from day to night, using colors of a sunset to relax passengers.
– “Sunrise”: Dynamic lighting that replicates an Australian sunrise, helping passengers transition from night to day.
The Wellbeing Zone, a new feature for Qantas, will have lighting that mimics a daytime sky with slow-moving clouds during the day and a moonlit scene at night to relax passengers. First Suites will offer fully customizable lighting sequences, allowing passengers to choose their preferred time zone lighting.
Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace highlighted the importance of light cycles and brightness in setting the body clock, stating that the scientifically informed lighting design is a critical component of the Project Sunrise flights, which will connect Australia’s east coast non-stop with London and New York.
The innovative lighting system is designed to improve passenger comfort in the air and minimize jetlag upon arrival. This initiative, combined with cabin design, specialized meal planning, and a movement program, aims to enhance the inflight experience and passenger wellbeing.
The Wellbeing Zone was recently recognized at the Crystal Cabin Awards, winning the ‘Passenger Comfort’ category for its innovative design on the A350.
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