Aircraft interior light unit having a light output over an extended light emission area, comprising: a flat light distribution body having a front surface, through which the light output is coupled out, and a back surface, at least one general illumination LED positioned at a lateral outside of the flat light distribution body, with light emitted by the at least one general illumination LED being coupled into the flat light distribution body and being propagated within the flat light distribution body via total internal reflection at the front and back surfaces (8, 10), wherein the back surface of the flat light distribution body has a plurality of surface irregularities, with light from the at least one general illumination LED being re-directed at the plurality of surface irregularities of the back surface for being coupled out of the flat light distribution body at the front surface thereof and for providing a general illumination over the extended light emission area; a plurality of signalling LEDs being arranged outside of the flat light distribution body and facing towards the back surface of the flat light distribution body; characterised by a translucent panel arranged between the back surface of the flat light distribution body and the plurality of signalling LEDs, with light emitted from the plurality of signalling LEDs passing through the translucent panel and the flat light distribution body, forming high luminance spots in the light output, as compared to the light emitted by the aircraft interior light unit when only the at least one general illumination LED is operated; and wherein the plurality of signalling LEDs are arranged in a set manner such that the high luminance spots convey predetermined signalling information to an aircraft passenger and/or aircraft crew member upon operation of the plurality of signalling LEDs, or wherein the plurality of signalling LEDs are arranged in a grid and wherein the plurality of signalling LEDs are individually controllable, with the aircraft interior light unit being capable of providing different signalling information to an aircraft passenger and/or aircraft crew member via selective operation of different subsets of the plurality of signalling LEDs. a flat light distribution body having a front surface, through which the light output is coupled out, and a back surface, at least one general illumination LED positioned at a lateral outside of the flat light distribution body, with light emitted by the at least one general illumination LED being coupled into the flat light distribution body and being propagated within the flat light distribution body via total internal reflection at the front and back surfaces (8, 10), wherein the back surface of the flat light distribution body has a plurality of surface irregularities, with light from the at least one general illumination LED being re-directed at the plurality of surface irregularities of the back surface for being coupled out of the flat light distribution body at the front surface thereof and for providing a general illumination over the extended light emission area; a plurality of signalling LEDs being arranged outside of the flat light distribution body and facing towards the back surface of the flat light distribution body; characterised by a translucent panel arranged between the back surface of the flat light distribution body and the plurality of signalling LEDs, with light emitted from the plurality of signalling LEDs passing through the translucent panel and the flat light distribution body, forming high luminance spots in the light output, as compared to the light emitted by the aircraft interior light unit when only the at least one general illumination LED is operated; and wherein the plurality of signalling LEDs are arranged in a set manner such that the high luminance spots convey predetermined signalling information to an aircraft passenger and/or aircraft crew member upon operation of the plurality of signalling LEDs, or wherein the plurality of signalling LEDs are arranged in a grid and wherein the plurality of signalling LEDs are individually controllable, with the aircraft interior light unit being capable of providing different signalling information to an aircraft passenger and/or aircraft crew member via selective operation of different subsets of the plurality of signalling LEDs.