A method for controlling lighting in an interior of an aircraft, a lighting control system, and computer program product. The method includes: determining a departure time adjusted for an offset from GMT at a departure location and an arrival time adjusted for an offset from GMT at an arrival location as epoch times; generating a flight time with GMT offsets based on subtracting the departure time from the arrival time; determining an FMS flight time representing the expected time that the aircraft will be in flight between the departure location and the arrival location; generating a simulation ratio modifier based on dividing the FMS flight time by the flight time with GMT offsets; applying the simulation ratio modifier to periods of a day to generate scaled durations for periods of the day in a lighting program; and applying the program to control the cabin lighting on the aircraft.