In brief
A Qantas Boeing 787 Dreamliner slated to fly from Rome to Perth was grounded on Saturday after passengers on the previous leg reported bedbug bites. The airline offered antihistamines, but supplies ran out, leading to a decision to cancel the departure and conduct a deep clean of a handful of economy seats. Qantas provided accommodation and rebooking within 48 hours, while staff highlighted the difficulty of eradicating the pests and the need for stringent sanitation protocols. The incident follows a string of global travel mishaps involving bedbugs, including past British Airways and Turkish Airlines cases, underscoring the growing challenge of pest control in aviation.
A Qantas Boeing 787 Dreamliner designated to travel from Rome to Perth was grounded on Saturday after a troubling outbreak of bedbugs was identified amid the previous leg of the route.
Passengers on the earlier Perth‑to‑Rome flight, a nearly 17‑hour haul, reported itchy bites and complained to staff. The airline supplied antihistamines, but supplies quickly ran out.
Following the reports, Qantas spokespersons announced a “deep clean” of the aircraft, describing the issue as confined to a small number of economy seats. The flight to Perth was cancelled to permit maintenance crews to carry out the sterilisation.
Qantas said all affected customers were put in accommodation and re‑booked on alternative flights within 48 hours of the original departure time.
While bedbug bites are generally only itchy, they can be hard and expensive to eradicate. Experts recommend washing all bedding, clothing, and curtains on hot cycles, or packing items in plastic bags and placing them in a freezer for three to four days.
The incident is part of a broader pattern. Earlier this month, a train service in England had to suspend operations after drivers discovered bedbugs in the carriages, and in 2017, British Airways apologized to a family after a similar infestation on a flight from Vancouver to London. Turkish Airlines has also faced criticism for repeated bedbug incidents, with the New York Times reporting several cases last year.
The ground‑stop has highlighted the increasing complexity of pest control in the global aviation industry, prompting airlines to review their sanitation protocols on long‑haul aircraft.
Qantas issued an apology for the inconvenience, but passengers have expressed frustration over the delay and the potential health implications of the outbreak.
