Qantas cancelled its Rome-to-Perth flight scheduled for Saturday, 13 October 2026, after reports of bedbug bites from passengers on the previous leg. The flight was operated by a Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.
Cause of Cancellation and Airline Response
The cancellation followed complaints from passengers about bedbug bites on a small number of economy seats. Qantas responded by grounding the Boeing 787 Dreamliner to conduct a deep clean and thorough disinfection of the affected aircraft.
Passenger Impact and Arrangements
Passengers booked on the cancelled flight faced delays of up to two days. The airline arranged hotel accommodation and rebooked affected travelers on alternative flights within 48 hours of the original departure
time.
Official Statements and Background on Bedbugs
A Qantas spokesperson apologized for the disruption and explained the decision to ground the aircraft was to allow engineers and maintenance teams to clean the affected seats thoroughly. Qantas noted that bedbugs were found on a limited number of seats in economy class but did not specify the number of passengers affected.
Bedbugs are small, wingless insects that feed on human blood and can be difficult to eradicate. They are known to spread via clothing, luggage, and bedding. Health authorities including the UK’s NHS and Australia’s Victorian Better Health Channel state bedbugs typically cause itchy bites but are not
known to transmit diseases to humans. Recommended treatments include washing and tumble drying fabrics on high heat or freezing items in sealed bags for several days.
Qantas routinely disinfects its aircraft every 50 days as a preventative measure against such infestations.
