Qantas canceled its Rome-to-Perth flight on Saturday, October 13, 2026, after passengers on a prior leg reported bedbug bites. The affected aircraft was a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which the airline removed from service for a thorough sanitation process.
The airline grounded the Boeing 787 to enable engineers and maintenance crews to perform a deep clean focusing on a small number of economy seats where bedbugs were detected. Passengers booked on the canceled flight received hotel accommodations and were rebooked on alternative flights scheduled within 48 hours of the original departure, according to information reported by Around Prague.
Qantas Cleaning Protocols and Health Context
Qantas maintains a
regular cleaning schedule and disinfects its aircraft every 50 days as a preventive measure. Bedbugs are small, wingless insects that feed on blood and can cling to clothing, suitcases, and bedding. The NHS states bedbug bites typically cause itchy welts without serious health consequences, and Australia’s Victorian government Better Health Channel confirms bedbugs do not transmit diseases to humans.
Recommended treatments for bedbug infestations include hot washing bedding, clothing, and fabrics, as well as sealing items in plastic bags placed in freezers for three to four days. Removing bedbugs from aircraft is difficult and expensive, often leading to extended downtime
for affected planes.
Passenger Impact and Operational Details
Passengers affected by the cancellation experienced delays up to two days. Qantas arranged hotel stays and rebooked flights for those impacted within 48 hours. The incident shows how a localized issue on a small number of economy seats required grounding a long-haul aircraft, resulting in significant travel delays.
A Qantas spokesperson apologized for the disruption and said the grounding allowed engineers and maintenance staff to clean the aircraft deeply after bedbugs were found on economy seats. The airline did not disclose how many passengers were affected or the infestation’s extent beyond the small number of seats.
