In brief
On Saturday, Qantas cancelled its Rome‑to‑Perth flight after a suspected bedbug infestation was discovered on a previous 17‑hour journey from Perth to Rome. Passengers who reported bites received antihistamines, but supplies ran out, forcing the airline to ground the aircraft for a thorough cleaning. A spokesperson apologized and confirmed that all affected passengers were accommodated and re‑booked within 48 hours. The incident follows a string of travel‑related bedbug reports, including recent train cancellations in England and prior complaints against British and Turkish airlines. The airline’s swift response aimed to mitigate the outbreak and uphold passenger safety.
A Turin‑to‑Perth Qantas flight was called off on Saturday after a bedbug outbreak on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner prompted an emergency deep‑cleaning.
The problem began on Friday when the same aircraft, carrying a 17‑hour leg from Perth to Rome, received several complaints from passengers about bites. Airline staff handed out antihistamines, but the stock was quickly depleted.
In a statement to the BBC, a Qantas spokesperson said the airline would "sincerely apologise" for the cancellation and explained that the aircraft was put on the ground to perform a deep clean after “an issue was identified on a small number of economy seats.”
All affected customers received accommodation and were rebooked on alternative flights within 48 hours of their original departure plan.
Bedbugs, the tiny wingless parasites that live on clothing and bedding, can cause itchy bites but rarely severe health problems. They are notoriously difficult to eradicate; effective treatment involves washing bedding at high temperatures, freezing items, or professional pest‑control measures. The NHS warns that treatments can be expensive and time‑consuming.
Travel disruptions from bedbugs are not news‑worthy for the first time. Less than two weeks ago, a handful of Southeast England train services were halted after drivers discovered bedbugs in their cabs. In 2017, British Airways faced backlash after a Vancouver‑to‑London flight left a family with numerous bites.
More recently, Turkish Airlines was embroiled in a PR crisis after the New York Times reported several complaints of bedbug infestations on its fleet, with accusations that the airline did not address the issue adequately.
