Airbus thinks it has found a way to alleviate jet lag

By A.W. | WASHINGTON, DC

THESE days, every element of flying feels like a financial calculation. Is shelling out $80 for an extra six inches of legroom in premium economy good value? Is it worth paying $50 to check a bag into the hold? How about $12 for a mediocre sandwich? Or $4 for a bottle of water?

Many frugal travellers would answer “no” to all of the above. But there is one perk that might be worth paying a considerable sum for: wiping out jet lag.

As we have previously reported, Stanford University researchers recently unveiled what they billed as a cure for jet lag, using flashes of light. That treatment, though, requires exposure to perfectly calibrated machinery the night before a flight. It’s promising, but not all that convenient.

Which is why Airbus is hoping its latest feature could be a draw for airlines looking to offer their passengers something beyond the usual menu of overpriced refreshments and upgrades. Its new A350 XWB aeroplane has LED lights that can produce 16.7m different colour shades which, it says, can mimic the light effect of different times of day. When travelling east, the plane can expose passengers to brighter lights before dawn, making it seem as if the day has already begun, as it has in their destination. In the reverse direction, continued exposure to light in the evening can simulate the delayed sunset to the west.

Of course, with 16.7m colour shades at their disposal, the airlines can create a much more complex effect than this binary approach. Condé Nast Traveler’s Cynthia Drescher hopped on the first Singapore Airlines A350 flight, from the Airbus factory in Toulouse to Singapore. Here’s how she described the experience:

Flying eastward from Europe, it quickly got dark, but the passengers were still on European time and only just ready for dinner. The colours of sunset were simulated in the cabin as we enjoyed dessert, playing to our natural body clocks and getting everyone in the mood for sleep. Throw in an air management system that renews the air every two minutes while helping regulate cabin temperature, and sitting onboard an A350 may be less harsh on your body than hanging out at home.

For those keen on testing it out, options are currently limited. Only five airlines use the A350: Qatar Airways, Vietnam Airlines, Finnair, TAM Airlines (in Brazil) and Singapore. At this point, those carriers are using it just for luxury flights. But Airbus, as of last month, reports having received 777 orders for the aircraft, including from British Airways, United and Delta. So expect to see it in wider circulation soon—and to put its claims of jet lag elimination to the test.