Jet-lag busting lighting to feature on new Qantas aircraft for 20 hour-plus flights

Passengers aboard Qantas’ Project Sunrise flights to New York and London are being promised a light show that should virtually eliminate jet lag.

The wellbeing zone on Qantas A350s will have its own special lighting sequence designed to “calm” passengers.

Scientifically-tested jet-lag busting lighting will be installed on board Qantas aircraft used to operate 20 hour plus flights between Australia’s east coast, New York and London. 

The lighting, inspired by the colours of the Australian landscape, is the result of more than 150 hours of testing in the Airbus customer definition centre in Hamburg, Germany. 

As part of the process, representatives from Qantas, Airbus, Sydney University’s Charles Perkins Institute and Caon Design Office created and tested hundreds of lighting patterns and sequences in an A350 cabin mock-up. 

Using modelling of circadian rhythms, the Charles Perkins Centre advised on the best colours of light to help body clocks adapt to different time zones, go to sleep and wake. 

A total of 12 unique lighting scenes were settled upon, after testing to adjust the sequences for eye comfort and appearance. 

These include “awake” – a blue enriched lighting to help passengers adjust to the destination time zone and help them stay awake; and “sunset” emulating the transition from day to night, with a “moonlight and slow cloud effect to relax customers and prepare them for sleep”. 

“Sunrise” will roll from the front of the cabin to the rear, simulating the dawn. 

A wellbeing zone between premium economy and economy will feature its own special lighting to create a daytime sky effect with slow-moving clouds. 

When the rest of the cabin is in darkness “moonlight” will fall across the zone with reflections of water rippling to relax passengers. 

Other sequences include welcome and farewell lighting for boarding and disembarking as well as tailored scenes for taxiing, takeoff and landing. 

The six first-class suites will have their own fully customisable lighting sequence so passengers can choose what time zone they wish to be in for the duration of the flight. 

Passengers in Qantas A350 first class suites can choose the lighting sequence of their preference.

Qantas International chief executive Cam Wallace said the scientifically informed lighting design was another critical component of the preparation for Project Sunrise flights which are due to commence in 2026. 

“One of the things that was clear from the research is the importance of light cycles and brightness to setting the body clock and that was the basis of this testing,” Mr Wallace 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 the lighting workshops followed more than five years of cabin design with Airbus and Qantas to maximise customer wellbeing during flight.

“Aircraft lighting doesn’t cross the mind of most travellers but the external light cycle of night and day has more impact on our circadian rhythm and the impact of jet lag than any other factor,” Mr Caon said. 

“The Charles Perkins Centre provided us the ideal spectral irradiance for wake and sleep, and these workshops were about crafting a beautiful ambience which was guided by that science and exceptional design principles.”

Airbus global head of marketing Joost van der Heijden said the A350 cabin was designed to provide passengers with the best possible flight experience. 

He said that included more personal space, the quietest cabin in the sky, the highest air quality and full connectivity throughout. 

“The unique and innovative state-of-the-art LED lighting system offers over 16 million colour combinations, enabling airlines to fully customise their offerings,” Mr van der Heijden said. 

“Qantas has taken full advantage of this unique lighting system to create science-based specific effects that will help passengers adapt to the changing times zones. This will contribute to their wellbeing on the world’s longest commercial flights.”

Dr Sveta Postnova from the Charles Perkins Institute said it was a truly collaborative effort to achieve the new lighting scenarios. 

“It’s great to see circadian science being translated into practice,” Dr Postnova said.

Qantas will start taking delivery of the A350-1000s from mid 2026. Ultra long range non-stop flights between Sydney and New York or London are due to begin soon after delivery.