Qantas has revealed a brand new menu for its non-stop Boeing 787 flights between Perth and London that incorporates the latest scientific knowledge on nutrition and hydration in a bid to help reduce jet lag.
Passengers on board Qantas’ new 17-hour Dreamliner service will be able to dine from a menu that has been inspired by research from the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre, as well as the in-house experience of the Qantas and Rockpool teams.
“Working with clinical sleep specialists, nutritionists and metabolic scientists, we’ve designed new menu options using delicious ingredients that have added benefits of hydration, aiding sleep and reducing jet lag,” said Neil Perry, the airline’s Creative Director of Food, Beverage & Service Neil Perry
The new menus will debut on Qantas’ 787 Dreamliner services from Perth to London on 24 March. Examples of the new inflight menu include probiotic-infused Botanica cold-pressed juice shots; bespoke herbal tea; and Organic kombucha.
Some dishes will also feature ingredients that promote hydration such as green leafy vegetables, cucumber, strawberries and celery, as well as certain ingredients (such as chilli) at particular times of the day. Before bed, cabin crew will serve a hot chocolate drink with the combination of warm milk and chocolate containing the sleep-inducing amino acid Tryptophan to help prompt the body’s sleep cycle.
But fret not, it’s not all leafy greens and herbal teas – more traditional fare will also be available in the form of roast English beef with Yorkshire pudding, peas and onion gravy.
One of the scientists working alongside Qantas, Professor Stephen Simpson, said the next step in the research will involve trials with a group of Frequent Flyers using wearable technology and apps to collect data on sleeping and activity patterns, mental state, eating patterns and hydration before, during and after their long-haul flight.
