Rome: Qantas has cancelled a flight from Rome to Perth after reports of bedbugs aboard the aircraft prompted the airline to carry out a deep cleaning operation.
The cancellation followed complaints from passengers on the previous service, who reported being bitten by insects during the nearly 17-hour flight from Perth to Rome. Some passengers complained of insect bites during the flight and were reportedly provided with antihistamines to relieve itching. However, the supply of medication eventually ran out, the report stated.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner was grounded to undergo a thorough cleaning after the issue was identified in a small number of economy-class seats, a Qantas spokesperson told the BBC.
“We sincerely apologise to customers for the cancellation of Rome to Perth service, which allowed our engineers and maintenance teams to carry out a deep clean of the aircraft after an issue was identified on a small number of economy seats,” the spokesperson remarked.
Qantas confirmed that all affected passengers were provided with accommodation and rebooked on alternative flights within 48 hours of their original departure time.
Bedbugs raise concerns over travel hygiene
Bedbugs are small, wingless parasites that can hide in clothing, furniture, bedding and other materials. Their bites can cause itching and skin irritation, although they do not usually lead to serious health problems, according to the UK’s National Health Service (NHS).
However, eliminating bedbugs can be challenging and expensive. Recommended treatment methods include washing bedding, clothing and other washable materials at high temperatures, followed by tumble drying. Items that cannot be washed may be placed in sealed plastic bags and kept in a freezer for several days, depending on the recommended treatment conditions.
Previous bedbug incidents disrupt travel
Bedbug infestations have previously disrupted transport services and raised concerns about hygiene in the travel industry. Less than two weeks before the Qantas incident, several Southeastern train services in England were cancelled after drivers reportedly discovered bedbugs in their train cabs.
In 2017, British Airways apologised to a family travelling from Vancouver to London after they reported suffering multiple insect bites during an overnight flight. The latest incident involving Qantas has once again drawn attention to the challenges airlines face in maintaining cabin hygiene and responding to pest-related complaints while minimising disruption to passengers.
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