Qantas canceled its Boeing 787 Dreamliner flight from Rome to Perth on October 13, 2026, after passengers reported bedbug bites on the previous flight leg. The airline grounded the aircraft for a deep clean by engineers, following the discovery of bedbugs on a small number of economy seats.
Passengers on the canceled flight were accommodated and rebooked onto other flights within 48 hours. Qantas apologized for the cancellation and disruption while confirming the bedbug issue was limited to a few seats.
Bedbugs are small, wingless insects feeding on blood that travel via clothing, suitcases, and bedding. The NHS states that
bedbug bites are itchy but generally not serious. Australia’s Victorian government Better Health Channel noted that bedbugs do not transmit diseases to humans. Suggested treatments include washing fabrics on a hot wash and tumble drying, or placing items in sealed plastic bags in a freezer for three or four days.
Qantas cleans its aircraft regularly and disinfects every 50 days as a precaution. This incident demonstrates how a localized bedbug problem on a few economy seats can take a long-haul aircraft out of service, complicating operations.
