Qantas Cancels Rome-to-Perth Flight After Bedbugs Reported on 787

Qantas cancelled a flight from Rome to Perth on Saturday after passengers on the previous leg complained of bedbug bites, the BBC and The Independent reported. The airline said the Boeing 787 Dreamliner was taken out of service so engineers could carry out a "deep clean."

Passengers booked on the cancelled service were given accommodation and rebooked on other flights within 48 hours of their original departure, according to the carrier.

How the bedbug outbreak unfolded

• Oct. 9: The aircraft operated a nearly 17-hour flight from Perth to Rome. According to a Qantas spokesperson quoted by The Independent, passengers in economy told crew they had been bitten by bedbugs. The Sydney Morning Herald, cited by the BBC, reported that some travelers were given antihistamines to ease the itching, but supplies ran out.
• Oct. 10: The return service from Rome to Perth was cancelled so maintenance teams could clean the plane.
• Within 48 hours of departure: Qantas said affected customers were put on alternative flights.

What Qantas has said

A Qantas spokesperson told the BBC the airline apologized to customers for the cancellation. The statement said the grounding let engineers and maintenance staff clean the aircraft after an issue was found on a small number of economy seats. The airline did not disclose how many passengers were affected.

The Independent also reported that Qantas says it cleans its aircraft regularly and disinfects them every 50 days as a precaution.

Earlier bedbug complaints against airlines

• 2017: British Airways apologized to a family who said they were covered in bites after an overnight flight from Vancouver to London, the BBC reported.
• December 2025: A family flying from the U.S. to Europe on KLM Royal Dutch Airlines sued the airline and its American partner, Delta Air Lines, according to The Independent. They alleged they were bitten and injured by bedbugs that had infested the cabin. Delta told People magazine that the allegations related to flights it did not operate. KLM told The Independent it could not comment on the specific allegations and would address the matter through legal channels.

Why it matters for travelers

For passengers caught up in the Qantas cancellation, the practical result was a delay of up to two days, with hotel stays and new bookings arranged by the airline. The disruption also shows how a problem with a small number of seats can take a long-haul aircraft out of service.

On the health side, the NHS website says bedbug bites can be itchy but do not usually cause more serious problems. Australia's Victorian government Better Health Channel says bedbugs are not believed to transmit diseases to humans. It describes a bite as typically a large, reddened and itchy welt that fades to a red spot, though some people do not react at all.

Bedbugs are small, wingless insects that feed on blood and can travel on clothing, suitcases and bedding, according to The Independent. The BBC, citing the NHS, noted that they can be difficult and expensive to remove. Its suggested treatments include washing bedding, clothing and fabrics such as curtains on a hot wash and tumble drying them, or sealing items in plastic bags in a freezer for three or four days.

Sources: BBC News, The Independent