A Qantas Boeing 787 Dreamliner was grounded after an outbreak of bedbugs was reported on the flight from Rome to Perth. The incident followed complaints from passengers on the previous night’s Perth‑to‑Rome leg, where several travellers said they were bitten by bugs during the nearly 17‑hour journey.
Passengers were given antihistamines to relieve itching, but supplies ran out. Qantas said the aircraft would undergo a deep clean by engineers and maintenance crews to address the issue identified on a small number of economy seats.
All affected customers were offered accommodation and rebooked on alternative flights within 48 hours of their original departure. The airline apologised for the cancellation and the inconvenience caused.
Bedbugs are wingless parasites that can infest clothing, furniture and bedding. While their bites can be itchy, they rarely cause serious health problems, though they are difficult and costly to eradicate. Treatment typically involves hot washing and drying of bedding and clothing, or freezing items in plastic bags for several days.
Travel disruptions caused by bedbugs are not uncommon. Earlier this month, several train services in England were cancelled after drivers discovered the pests in their cabs. In 2017, British Airways apologized to a family who had been bitten on a flight from Vancouver to London, and last year Turkish Airlines faced criticism after reports of infestations on its planes.
Qantas said it would review its pest control procedures to prevent future incidents. The airline’s spokesperson added that the safety and comfort of its passengers remain a top priority.
