Qantas cancels Rome–Perth flight after reported bedbug outbreak

The essentials.

A Dreamliner was taken out of service for cleaning after passengers reported bites on its outbound journey.

A little more perspective.

Qantas cancelled a Rome–Perth service after reports of bedbugs on the aircraft’s journey from Perth to Rome on 9 October. The Boeing 787 was removed from service for cleaning, disrupting the return flight scheduled for 10 October, according to reporting published by InDaily Queensland on 13 October. [1]

Arrangements for passengers

The report quoted a Qantas spokesperson saying the cancellation allowed maintenance teams to carry out a deep clean following an issue affecting a small number of economy seats. The airline said it provided accommodation and rebooked affected passengers within 48 hours of their original departure. [1]

What is established

The available account documents a cancelled service and the airline’s response. It does not establish a wider failure in Qantas cleaning procedures, the origin of the infestation or the financial cost of the disruption. NewsWeekly has not independently inspected the aircraft.