Qantas has pulled a Boeing 787 Dreamliner from service for a deep clean and fumigation after passengers on flight QF5 from Perth to Rome reported bed bug bites during the 16-hour journey on 9 October.
Several passengers required antihistamine treatment upon arrival in Rome, and the plane's supply of the medication was reportedly exhausted as travellers sought relief from their bites. The carrier subsequently cancelled the return Rome-to-Perth service, according to The Mirror.
Passengers rebooked and accommodated
Those affected by the disruption were booked into hotels and transferred onto alternative services within 48 hours. The aircraft was removed from operation for thorough cleaning and fumigation.
This is not the first instance of bed bugs affecting a major airline. A British Airways flight from Vancouver to London discovered bed bugs on board in 2017, while passengers on a Turkish Airlines service from Johannesburg to Istanbul reported similar issues in 2024.
Qantas apologises for cancellation
"We sincerely apologise to customers for the cancellation of Saturday's Rome to Perth service, which allowed our engineers and maintenance teams to carry out a deep clean of the aircraft after an issue was identified on a small number of economy seats," a spokesperson for the carrier said.
Bed bugs, which survive by feeding on human blood, can be transported via clothing, luggage and other personal items, with infestations typically requiring specialist intervention to eliminate.
