Qantas cancels Rome to Perth flight after bed bug complaints
Passengers on the Perth to Rome flight complained of bites, so the return flight was cancelled for a deep clean.
Passengers on Qantas flight QF5 from Perth to Rome complained to cabin crew of being bitten last Friday. Crew gave affected passengers antihistamines, a type of medicine, until supplies ran out.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner did not fly its return trip the next day. Qantas said the cancellation let engineers deep clean the plane after an issue on a small number of economy seats.
Passengers on the cancelled QF6 flight were rebooked within 48 hours of their original times. Some passengers faced delays of up to two days, and Qantas provided accommodation while they waited.
NSW Health says bed bugs are not known to spread disease, but they can cause itching and loss of sleep. Planes get a routine insect-removal clean about every 50 days as a precaution.
- QF5, Perth to Rome
- Affected flight
- Every 50 days
- Routine clean interval
- Up to two days
- Longest delay
Why it mattersA bed bug case can ground a plane and leave passengers waiting up to two days for a new flight.
AustraliaPassengers on Qantas long-haul trips from Perth may face cancellations if a plane needs a deep clean.
Corroborated bythenightly.com.au
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 2 h ago
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