Research from McKinsey shows that two-thirds of global executives are dissatisfied with how much they sleep, and 55% with the quality of that sleep. Rest is a critical enabler of performance and essential to wellbeing, and VistaJet’s new Sleep Program aims to help its Members sleep better onboard, as Global Chief Marketing Officer, Matteo Atti, reveals
In November 2025, VistaJet launched its Sleep Program, described as ‘a science-backed approach to rest and recovery at altitude and at destination’. Based on sound scientific principles, the initiative includes a brochure entitled VistaJet Sleep which, while containing some great information, at first glance feels like it could be marketing spin. VistaJet’s furthest flying guests are enjoying the benefits of the Global 7500 cabin, designed to optimise their wellbeing and help ensure quality sleep, so why choose sleep for a large-scale programme?
The brochure explains that VistaJet developed its Sleep Program with Peter Attia, MD, sleep expert and founder of Early Medical, a practice that applies the principles of Medicine 3.0 with the goal of simultaneously lengthening patients’ lifespan and increasing their ‘health span’. He also hosts the Peter Attia, MD Drive podcast and wrote the New York Times bestseller Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity.
Seeking a second opinion on the importance of sleep from a more prosaic source, your editor turned to the UK’s government health sector and found the following description in an NHS Scotland patient information leaflet:
“Alongside a healthy, balanced, and varied diet and an active lifestyle, sleep is one of the most important factors in developing and maintaining wellness throughout our life. In recent years the healthcare community has become increasingly aware of the importance of good quality sleep on health and wellbeing and why a poor sleep pattern is not good for anyone.”
Let us not then dismiss the importance of good-quality sleep.
Returning to VistaJet’s Global 7500 and forthcoming Global 8000 fleets, these aircraft represent a foundation upon which the Sleep Program was built, as Matteo Atti, Vista’s Global Chief Marketing Officer, explains: “The Global 7500 and 8000 offer an exceptional baseline: their low cabin altitude pressure, advanced air purification and humidification, and highly sophisticated lighting reduce fatigue compared with conventional flying. The Sleep Program builds on that foundation by using those systems intentionally. We’ve aligned lighting, temperature, timing and service flow with circadian biology. Our Cabin Hosts aren’t just adjusting the cabin for comfort: they’re configuring it with physiological purpose. The aircraft gives us the capability, and the Sleep Program gives it direction.”
That direction must include nutrition, environmental conditions and more mundane requirements, including privacy and waking. Addressing nutrition, Atti says: “It is highly individual, which is why we avoid rigid rules. That said, we do generally advise minimising caffeine consumption in the air, as it can be dehydrating and disruptive to sleep patterns for most. Our focus is on timing and balance rather than restriction. Lighter, nutrient-dense meals and good hydration before rest can support better sleep quality, while protein-forward options after waking help restore alertness. Peter Attia views nutrition as a key pillar – alongside sleep, exercise and emotional health – supporting long-term health and performance. Many of our Members already think this way; we simply translate that mindset into the flight environment.”
Setting aside cabin pressure altitude, temperature and smart lighting as known, other, uncontrollable factors also affect sleep. While the principal might be enjoying sound sleep in the Global’s master suite for example, other passengers might be sleeping elsewhere in the cabin while still others remain awake and alert. Now consider the possibility that a snoring or speaking guest might disturb the sleep of others. How does the crew manage the situation?
“This is where experience and discretion really matter,” remarks Atti. “Our Cabin Hosts are trained to manage multiple ‘sleep states’ at once. They use zoning, layout, soft furnishings and ambient sound to minimise disruption, and will reposition guests where possible. Private aviation offers flexibility and our Cabin Hosts are adept at maintaining comfort without drawing attention to the issue. We also provide sleep kits with eye masks and earplugs – practical solutions, applied quietly.”
Still, most of us need to feel comfortably secure for sound sleep. Achieving that state is not always easy in an aircraft cabin, a fact Atti acknowledges. It comes as no surprise to hear him explain how VistaJet has faced the challenge: “Psychological safety is essential to good sleep. Privacy, predictability and trust all matter. Vista’s consistent Members’ fleet, familiar service style and highly trained Cabin Hosts help establish that sense of security. Members know what to expect and know the environment is being actively managed for them. Through physical separation, lighting zones and discreet crew presence, we create conditions where guests can genuinely switch off, even when travelling with colleagues or family.”
Time to wake up
Having helped them achieve quality rest, Cabin Hosts must ensure their guests awake on time. How do they manage it? “Very gently,” Atti remarks. “There are no alarms unless a Member specifically requests one. Most wake-ups are managed through gradual lighting changes that mimic natural daylight, often paired with a quiet verbal check-in or a prepared beverage. The goal is to transition the body from rest to alertness smoothly, particularly when crossing time zones, rather than jolting a passenger awake with lights or announcements.”
Speaking with Atti it is clear how important VistaJet’s Cabin Hosts are to delivering the Sleep Program. In past conversations with Cabin Hosts, your editor learned that they will often carefully, discretely note passenger preferences to improve a Member’s subsequent flight experience. Is this the case with sleep? Atti responds: “Yes, sleep preferences are treated like any other personal detail, always within strict privacy standards. If a guest consistently prefers a certain temperature, bedding, lighting level or pre-sleep routine, that information helps us anticipate their needs on future flights. It’s about familiarity and ease. For example, some families love using the night-time star projector to help children fall asleep – once we know that, we’re ready for them next time.”
Cabin Hosts must always be at the top of their game and for that to be accomplished they must also be rested. But they travel lots, regularly passing through multiple time zones, which can lead to disturbed sleep. How does VistaJet look after them? With considerable care, reports Atti: “Crew wellbeing is fundamental to both safety and service quality. Rest periods are carefully planned, duties are rotated, and schedules designed to maintain alertness on long-haul flights. Cabin Hosts experience time zone shifts even more frequently than our Members, which is why their training includes fatigue management and recovery strategies. A well-rested crew is not only safer, but better able to deliver a calm, attentive experience.”
VistaJet’s Sleep Program is therefore not a marketing ploy, but a serious approach to addressing one of flying’s oldest challenges. It is about helping guests relax, sleep well and arrive prepared, and with that in mind, there is another question for Atti to address. VistaJet recently announced a wide-ranging deal for Gogo Galileo, adding to connectivity already available on some jets so that the entire fleet will be equipped with high-speed broadband. Internet access can help passengers arrive prepared and for some it has a role to play in relaxation, but our obsession with devices and social media makes for an awkward bedfellow alongside sleep.
Atti responds: “Ultimately, readiness is the key to success, and connectivity and sleep are critical to performance. Our Members are among the most successful people in the world and helping them find the most productive rhythm is our aim. Their success is a result of preparation: having all the right tools, at the right moment, to make a difference. The VistaJet Sleep Program ensures that when it’s time to rest, the cabin actively helps the body do so, while Gogo Galileo provides dedicated global connectivity, to support live productivity.
“Modern travellers demand and expect flexibility. Sometimes you need to work, sometimes you need to rest and often you need to do both on the same journey. Our role is to enable that choice because our Guests must be connected and must be in the best conditions to deliver.”
Achieving those conditions once again brings the Cabin Hosts to the fore. They do not take devices away or enforce sleep time, instead creating the right conditions for relaxation. Atti concludes: “When the lighting softens, sound levels drop, the temperature shifts and the cabin feels genuinely calm, most people naturally put their devices to sleep, while Cabin Hosts may gently suggest rest at the right moment based on the journey and destination, since sleep works best when it’s invited, not enforced.”