Overview
- Passengers on QF5 from Perth to Rome reported being bitten on Oct 9, and Qantas cancelled the scheduled Rome‑to‑Perth return QF6 the next day so the aircraft could be cleaned.
- The airline said the problem was found on a small number of economy seats and removed that Boeing 787 from service for a deep clean that included fumigation.
- Affected travellers were rebooked on alternate flights within 48 hours and given hotel accommodation, though some experienced delays of up to two days and flight supplies of antihistamines reportedly ran out.
- Health authorities told reporters that bed bugs are not believed to spread disease but their bites can be itchy, distressing and can lead to secondary skin infection if scratched.
- Journalists note this is part of a rare but recurring pattern of bed‑bug detections on aircraft, and Qantas says its fleet undergoes precautionary disinfecting about every 50 days.