Charles Perkins Centre researchers co-designed custom-built aircraft and service to mitigate jet lag on long-haul flights. 

At the Airbus headquarters in Toulouse, France, Qantas unveiled the cabin design of Project Sunrise, their 22-hour direct flight from Sydney to London, launching in October 2027. Following the successful launch of the Perth to London route, the non-stop Sydney to London route was developed over nearly 10 years in partnership with researchers at the Charles Perkins Centre (CPC). Researchers worked to optimise in-flight aspects including nutrition, lighting, and physical movement.

“It’s hugely exciting to see another major milestone from our long and fruitful partnership,” said Professor Stephen Simpson, co-chair of the partnership’s joint steering committee.

Professor Peter Cistulli, Professor of Sleep Medicine and Sleep Theme co-leader at the Charles Perkins Centre, has been part of the partnership from the very beginning. He was at Toulouse to share research that led to the Charles Perkins Centre’s contributions to the new route with media and investors. Professor Cistulli shared, “It was wonderful to be at Toulouse to see the direct product of our partnership with Qantas - the A350 Project Sunrise flights. The impact of CPC science strongly resonated across media, industry and investors.” Charles Perkins Centre Academic Director, Professor Leanne Redman concurred, “Our involvement in the event really underscores the global interest in this work and the unique position CPC holds in shaping something truly historic.”

Custom-built Airbus aircraft will be used for the route, which will become the world’s longest non-stop commercial flight. Charles Perkins Centre researchers have contributed to the design of several elements of the aircraft, including the new world-first wellbeing zone that encourages passengers to move around and will provide guided exercises. The aircraft lighting was developed in consultation with Associate Professor Svetlana Postnova, who leads the Circadian Physics and Sleep Dynamics Group in the School of Physics.

Associate Professor Postnova also leads an ARC Linkage grant with Qantas which collects data from volunteer passengers flying on an optimised schedule based on science and a traditional schedule. She worked in collaboration with Caon Design Office, Airbus, and the airline to ensure optimal lighting design and lighting schedules to encourage sleep and wakefulness in alignment with the destination time. Associate Professor Postnova noted, “Light exposure is key to mitigating jetlag. Together, we’ve looked at light spectrum and intensity on A350 and designed lighting scenes for every part of the journey, including blue-enriched cooler light to stay awake and warmer light for transition to and from sleep imitating dynamic sunset and sunrise.”

“You can’t completely avoid jet lag,” said Professor Cistulli, “but applying the science and equipping passengers with information they can use for their flights, that can go a long way toward easing the burden.” Direct flights from Sydney to New York are anticipated to be launched by the end of 2027.