Qantas cancelled a flight from Rome to Perth after passengers reported bedbug bites sustained on the aircraft's previous service. The airline was forced to ground a Boeing 787 Dreamliner in Rome after passengers reported bedbug bites during a long-haul flight from Perth, Australia.
The incident occurred aboard flight QF5 on 9 October, with passengers in the economy cabin complaining of insect bites during the nearly 17-hour journey. According to Australian media reports, cabin crew provided antihistamines to affected passengers on medical advice, but supplies reportedly ran out.
The aircraft was withdrawn from service, forcing Qantas to cancel its scheduled return flight QF6 from Rome to Perth on Saturday, 10 October. Qantas confirmed the cancellation was necessary to allow its engineering and maintenance teams to thoroughly clean the aircraft.
In a statement, a Qantas spokesperson apologised to customers for the cancellation of Saturday's Rome to Perth service, which allowed engineers and maintenance teams to carry out a deep clean after an issue was identified on a small number of economy seats. The airline provided passengers with accommodation and rebooked them on alternative flights within 48 hours of their original departure.
Qantas said its aircraft cabins are regularly cleaned to high standards, with precautionary disinfection treatments conducted every 50 days. The report also noted that bedbugs can be transported in luggage, clothing and other personal belongings, and that removing an infestation can require specialist treatment beyond routine aircraft cabin cleaning.
