Qantas Flight Cancelled Due to Bedbug Infestation
Passengers reported being bitten on a previous flight, leading to the grounding of the aircraft for a deep clean.
A Qantas flight from Rome to Perth was cancelled on Saturday after an outbreak of bedbugs was discovered on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
The issue came to light when passengers on the preceding flight, a nearly 17-hour journey from Perth to Rome on Friday, complained of being bitten by insects. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, passengers were offered antihistamines to alleviate itching, but supplies quickly ran out.
Qantas confirmed the cancellation allowed for a "deep clean" of the aircraft. "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 Qantas spokesperson told the BBC.
All affected passengers were provided with accommodation and rebooked on alternative flights within 48 hours of their original departure time. Bedbugs are small, wingless parasites that can infest clothing, furniture, and bedding. While their bites can cause itching, they typically do not lead to more serious health problems, according to the NHS website.
Getting rid of bedbugs can be a challenging and costly process. Recommended treatments include washing all bedding, clothing, and household fabrics like curtains in hot water and tumble drying them, or freezing them in plastic bags for three to four days.
Incidents of bedbugs disrupting travel are not uncommon. Less than two weeks prior to this Qantas event, several Southeastern train services in England were cancelled after drivers reported finding the pests in their train cabs. In 2017, British Airways issued an apology to a family who reported being covered in bites after an overnight flight from Vancouver to London. Turkish Airlines also faced scrutiny last year following reports in The New York Times detailing multiple instances of bedbug infestations on its planes, along with allegations that the airline had not adequately addressed the problem.