Air Transat's tips to beat Jetlag Blues

 

Air Transat’s New Inflight Mood Lighting Leaves Europe-Bound Travellers Feeling Rested, Refreshed and Rejuvenated

Canadians planning to travel on long-haul flights to European destinations often worry about losing an entire day upon arrival, feeling exhausted due to the effects of jetlag.  But, thanks to innovations in mood lighting, travellers can now ensure minimization of the effects of jetlag, including improved mood and reduced sleep disruption by triggering the body to adjust to time zones more rapidly.

Canada’s leading carrier, Air Transat, named World’s Best Leisure Airline in 2012 at the Skytrax annual World Airline Awards, offers direct flights to the most destinations in Europe, with direct flights to 28 destinations in 12 different countries. As many Canadians plan to jet set to Europe, Air Transat now provides travellers with an experience that will not only provide comfort, but will also benefit their moods after landing in their respective destinations.

Day-to-night LED mood lighting is just one of the features offered in the recently launched Airbus A330 redesigned cabins, adding to the airline’s focus on offering comfort and luxury to passengers. The upgrades to enhance the flying experience include redesigned leather, ergonomic seats, enhanced entertainment, hot meals and wine and champagne offered in-flight.

Dr. Coleeen Carney, mood and sleep specialist for Air Transat, says jetlag has a negative affect on travellers’ mood and the enjoyment of a vacation. “Changing the brightness and the colour of cabin light can significantly change the ambience and the mood of passengers,” says Dr. Colleen Carney. “Light can be invigorating or relaxing, it can make you feel awake or lull you to sleep – just what your body craves – and needs – on a longer flight. “

Combat jetlag with light therapy:

-       Warm white light during overnight flights helps to stimulate melatonin production and increase passenger relaxation. Warm lighting reduces the heart rate and yields "medically measurable improvement" in sleep patterns

-       Blue-rich cold light in the morning increases alertness. The “cooler” light suppresses melatonin production. The benefit to passengers is better productivity and more enjoyment over the course of the arrival day after a long trip

-       Reddening the colour slightly at dawn and dusk, simulating sunrise and sunset, can reduce fatigue during long-haul flights

“We have been listening to our passengers and know that the number one detraction to travelling overseas is jetlag,” says Joseph Adamo, Vice President of Marketing at Transat Canada.  “It’s our goal to provide our guests with the best experience in leisure and comfort during their flights, along with freedom and flexibility. As European jet-setters often plan to fly into one country and back home from another we cater to these needs, too, by offering open-jaw flights to all European destinations.”

Air Transat recently released its Summer 2013 lineup of European destinations to Canadians. Since jetlag occurs when travellers fly across one or more time zones, travellers should be aware of the tools available to help reduce the effects of jetlag.  In addition to mood lighting in-flight, other tools and tricks include taking melatonin supplements, drinking plenty of water, eating small meals frequently and walking around the airplane whenever possible. 

Air Transat provides affordable airfare, comfort, inflight services and year-round flights to Europe. For more information on the new Airbus A330 redesigned cabins, launched in April 2012, visit www.airtransat.com 

About Air Transat

Air Transat is Canada’s leading holiday travel airline. Every year, it carries some 3 million passengers to nearly 60 destinations in 25 countries aboard its fleet of Airbus wide-body jets. The company employs approximately 2,000 people. Air Transat is a business unit of Transat A.T. Inc., an integrated international tour operator with more than 60 destination countries and that distributes products in over 50 countries.  For more information visit www.facebook.com/airtransat or www.twitter.com/AirTransat.