Australian airline Qantas has taken a Boeing 787 Dreamliner out of service in Rome after bedbugs were reportedly discovered in the economy section of an aircraft travelling from Perth.
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Read E-PaperThe insects were found near the front of the economy cabin during the QF5 flight from Perth to Rome on October 9, according to a source familiar with the incident.
The discovery prompted the airline to arrange a thorough cleaning of the aircraft after it arrived in the Italian capital.
The incident also led to the cancellation of the Rome-to-Perth service scheduled for October 10 as engineers and maintenance teams worked to address the problem.
A Qantas spokesperson said the flight had been cancelled to allow a deep clean following the identification of an issue affecting a small number of economy seats.
The airline apologised to passengers for the inconvenience caused by the disruption.
Qantas said affected travellers were provided with accommodation and booked onto alternative flights within 48 hours of their original departure time.
Bedbugs are small parasitic insects that feed on the blood of humans and other mammals. They can be difficult to eliminate because they hide in small spaces, including seats, mattresses and furniture.
Qantas said its aircraft cabins undergo regular cleaning to maintain high hygiene standards. The airline also uses disinfectant treatments every 50 days as part of its routine precautionary measures.
The incident has highlighted the challenges airlines face in maintaining cabin hygiene and responding to pest-related problems while minimising disruptions to passengers.
