Qantas flight grounded after bedbug outbreak

What the report says

Qantas grounded one of its long-haul Boeing 787 Dreamliners after passengers on a previous flight reported bug bites, prompting the airline to cancel the return service from Rome to Perth. The issue affected a nearly 17-hour journey from Perth to Rome on Friday, and the aircraft was taken out of service for a deep clean, according to the carrier.

The airline said the problem was identified on a small number of economy seats. In comments reported by the BBC, a Qantas spokesperson apologised to customers for the cancellation and said engineers and maintenance teams carried out the cleaning before the plane could be used again. Passengers on the earlier flight were reportedly given antihistamines, but supplies ran out.

Qantas said affected travelers were provided with accommodation and rebooked on alternative flights within 48 hours of their original departure. Bedbugs are small parasites that can spread in transport and lodging environments, and while their bites are usually not medically serious, they can be difficult to remove once introduced.

The incident adds to a broader pattern of travel disruptions linked to bedbugs, which have occasionally affected airlines and rail services in recent years, underscoring the operational and reputational challenge such infestations can pose.