Australian flag carrier Qantas Airways has issued a formal apology after being forced to cancel a scheduled flight from Rome to Perth following a distressing bedbug infestation on board.
According to reports from The Sydney Morning Herald, passengers traveling on the airline’s nearly 17-hour long-haul route on October 9 experienced a nightmare journey as pests crawled over seats, personal clothing, blankets, and cabin windows.
Distressed travellers recounted chaotic scenes inside the cabin during the flight:
Panic in the cabin: One passenger reported being abruptly awakened by screaming as fellow travellers discovered the insects.
Another passenger stated that “the bugs just kept coming,” with some individuals finding the pests hiding inside their personal shoes and clinging to garments.
Airline implements deep-cleaning measures after initial reports
Qantas revealed that the issue was first flagged during an earlier domestic leg from Sydney to Perth. Ahead of the subsequent international journey to Rome, ground crews reportedly carried out an initial deep-clean, stripped soft furnishings, and isolated affected economy seats.
Despite those precautionary measures, reports of ongoing pest activity prompted airline executives to cancel the return Rome-to-Perth service originally scheduled for October 10.
“We sincerely apologise to customers for the cancellation of Saturday’s Rome-to-Perth service,” Qantas stated, explaining that the grounding was necessary to allow specialised contractors to thoroughly sanitise the Boeing 787 Dreamliner cabin.
The airline noted that its commercial fleet undergoes regular deep-cleaning and precautionary disinfectant treatments every 50 days.
Passenger care and expert advice on travel pests
Cabin crew reportedly distributed antihistamines to relieve itching during the flight, though supplies eventually ran out due to the high number of affected individuals. Passengers disrupted by the flight cancellation were provided with hotel accommodations and rebooked onto alternative flights within 48 hours.
Weighing in on the incident, entomologist Benjamin Hottel explained that bedbugs are notorious “hitchhikers” capable of travelling inside personal luggage and clothing.
While bedbug bites can cause uncomfortable itching and skin swelling, health experts confirm they do not transmit infectious diseases. Travel specialists recommend that passengers returning from affected flights inspect their luggage thoroughly and tumble-dry potentially exposed clothing on high heat for 30 to 45 minutes.
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