Overview
- Passengers on the long‑haul Perth–Rome flight reported insect bites during the flight and cabin crew gave antihistamines to affected travellers.
- After landing in Rome the airline identified the insects as bedbugs and removed the Boeing 787 from service for a full specialist cleaning and pest treatment.
- Qantas cancelled the scheduled return flight, put affected passengers in hotels and said it would rebook them and get them underway within 48 hours.
- The airline said the infestation was limited to a small number of Economy seats; bedbugs do not spread known diseases but their bites can cause itching and distress.
- Experts and Qantas note that bedbugs often travel in luggage or clothing, are hard to detect and eradicate, and aircraft treatment is complicated by insecticide limits and resistance which can extend operational disruption on the seasonal Perth–Rome route.