Flights can be delayed or canceled for all kinds of reasons, though this is definitely one of the more unpleasant ones, from a passenger experience standpoint…
Bed bug infestation grounds Qantas Dreamliner in Rome
This incident happened on Friday, October 9, 2026, and involves Qantas flight QF5 from Perth (PER) to Rome (FCO). At 8,298 miles, this is one of Qantas’ longest flights, and it was operated by a Boeing 787-9 with the registration code VH-ZNI.
Long story short, during the flight, several passengers in the forward section of the economy cabin complained of being bitten by bed bugs. Passengers were then given antihistamines to help ease the itch of the bites, but supplies of that ran out.
After landing in Rome at 7:33AM on Saturday, October 10, 2026, the plane underwent a “deep clean.” Because of this, the return flight, QF6, which was scheduled to depart at 10:45AM, was canceled. The airline emphasizes how all passengers were provided accommodation and rebooked on alternative flights within 48 hours of their original departure.
Per a spokesperson for the airline, “we sincerely apologise to customers for the cancellation of Saturday’s 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.”
Ordinarily if you find bed bugs in something like a home or hotel, you’d fumigate the space, to ensure that they’re gone. However, that’s not typically possible on aircraft, because fumigation could damage the electrical wiring found throughout the cabin.
This bed bug infestation ended up being costly for the airline
Qantas deserves credit for how it handled this situation, including taking the plane out of service. Not only are there massive costs associated with a plane not flying (planes don’t make money on the ground!), but this was also a flight departing the European Union, meaning passengers were potentially entitled to EC261 compensation.
So in addition to a duty of care (hotels, meals, etc.), each passenger who requests it is entitled to 600 Euro in cash compensation, assuming they made it to their final destination at least four hours late (which presumably almost everyone did). Qantas Dreamliners have 236 seats, so that could be up to 141,600 Euro in cash compensation alone.
One thing I find interesting is that the plane did fly back to Australia just hours later, with flight number QF7006 and QF6007. It’s interesting that Qantas canceled the initial flight rather than just delaying it. Did the airline really just ferry this plane back to Australia empty, or were there passengers on these? Perhaps the deep clean only happened in Australia, so that’s why the plane was ferried?
The plane did end up departing Rome at 2:02PM on Saturday, compared to the initially scheduled time of 10:45AM. However, after the stopover in Perth, the plane only landed in Sydney (SYD) at 10:34PM, over six hours after the scheduled 4:25PM arrival.
Bottom line
Passengers traveling on Qantas between Perth and Rome were in for a bit of an unpleasant surprise, when several people in the forward section of economy reported being bitten by bed bugs. While the crew offered antihistamines, they ran out.
Qantas ended up having to cancel the return flight, and rebooked passengers on other flights within 48 hours, so that the plane could undergo a deep clean. Talk about a really unpleasant reality, though kudos to Qantas for taking this seriously, and not simply trying to sweep it under the rug (not that this would’ve ended well either).
What do you make of this Qantas bed bug situation?
Are they sure it’s bed bugs?
AFAIK bed bug bites only show delayed itching, like 24-48h later, differently to mosquito bites. Now if you see them or their shells, it’s of course clear. Otherwise it’s very strange an aircraft should suddenly have a bed bug infestation affecting multiple passengers. Such infestations take time to develop.
Bed bugs are transmitted by humans , so did THEY have treatment or did THEY pass them on to the accommodation QF provided! It wasn't QF's fault that bed bugs were there, it's the PAX that put them onto the aircraft in the 1st place!!! May QF needs to screen PAX for cleanliness!!!!
Why don't they just let it bake in the sun for a bit? Heat is the only true killer of a bed bug.
I presume you have a scientific reference to back up your claim. Let's see it!
The aircraft VH-ZNI was ferried in 2 hops back from Rome, as noted. The customs inspection at PER must have been interesting. And 36 hours after landing in SYD, it was back in service as QF81 en route to SIN, with a return flight as QF82 also flown. One wonders about the extent of the 'fumigation' process ...
This would never happen on Delta.
Qantas needs to sell to Delta so they can be the airline they were meant to be.
And did Quantas pay to have everyone's bags and belongings fumigated? Bedbugs are TERRIBLY difficult to get rid of.
Once you see one bedbug you know this critter is not alone
My understanding is that the bed bugs are really hard to get rid of, especially inside an airplane. Did they really get rid of them or just acted like they did?
No Jflyer they have just pretended to get rid of the bugs so they reappear on the next passenger flight and get the airline some more press. Before you write something so extraordinarly dim, read it to a friend first. Sorry, that last comment must hurt ...
Are you an Aussie?
"each passenger who requests it is entitled to 600 Euro in cash compensation, assuming they made it to their final destination at least four hours late"
Pretty sure that the sole fact that the flight being cancelled within 24h of departure automatically entitles passengers to the full 600€. A few years back LH (shocker) cancelled a flight of mine the night before departure and rebooked me on a flight that got me 1h *earlier* than...
"each passenger who requests it is entitled to 600 Euro in cash compensation, assuming they made it to their final destination at least four hours late"
Pretty sure that the sole fact that the flight being cancelled within 24h of departure automatically entitles passengers to the full 600€. A few years back LH (shocker) cancelled a flight of mine the night before departure and rebooked me on a flight that got me 1h *earlier* than my original flight (though departed 2h earlier). I was ultimately given the full 600€.
Looking at all the reports that come out of people traveling with Qantas one more expect it's an airline that's making huge losses. Then you look at the balance sheet and it's making record-breaking profit while making minimal spend in the upkeep of its equipment and product.
An airline to avoid.
QA is raking in the cash because the ME3 are losing passengers in huge numbers.
Do you mean QF?
Fares for QF are significantly higher but there’s not a lot of options in Australia if you want to keep status as Virgin don’t have a big international network.
I disagree with the comment that QF isn’t investing in its equipment and products. Project Sunrise is coming (Sydney to London and NY direct) as is a huge fleet renewal program with new cabins - planes are just massively delayed.
...Do you mean QF?
Fares for QF are significantly higher but there’s not a lot of options in Australia if you want to keep status as Virgin don’t have a big international network.
I disagree with the comment that QF isn’t investing in its equipment and products. Project Sunrise is coming (Sydney to London and NY direct) as is a huge fleet renewal program with new cabins - planes are just massively delayed.
I’m QF Platinum OWE (have been for 15 or so years) and the service isn’t as good as it used to be but every flight is full, upgrades are rare but I think it is the better airline in Australia although we do pay a premium for it which I don’t think it always deserves.
I’m Velocity (Virgin) Platinum also and I’d choose Qantas over Virgin every time if I had the choice. Lounge network and quality is way better with QF as is inflight service and soft and hard product. Only difference is Virgin can be cheaper.
There is not a lot upstairs with you is there? This is the first time the airline has had this issue, grow up.
The plane is flying to Singapore and back today so I guess they believe they have it solved.
How to get rid of infestation?
Let the draconian authoritarian handle it.
Corporal and Capital style.
Caning and hanging bed bugs.
Smart move Qantas.
“Good night, sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite… and if they do, take your shoe and beat them 'till they're black and blue.” Or, in Qantas case, a deep cleaning in Rome, while you pay EU261 compensation to impacted customers.
A tired old rhyme followed by information already given in the report. You really DO have shit for brains.
John, well, that is a slight improvement from what you usually say to me... g, thanks?
Good night sleep tight, don't let Timbits bite.
But if they do, take your widget and beat them till they're burgundy and blue.
Timty Dunnty sat on a wall,
Timty Dunnty had a great earnings call.
All the Delta and all the RASM,
Couldn't put Dunnty on his meds again.
Timmy Dunn went up the hill,
To fetch a pail of profits.
Tim fell down and broke his sanity,
Delta came tumbling after.
QF7000 series are freight flights.
QF6000 series are ferry flights.
Based on this I'd take it that they had cargo to carry to Perth, so they flew that without passengers. Then ferried the plane onwards to Sydney.
Sounds like some decisive ops planning. Cut your losses and get the aicraft & crew back home, sorted and back in the schedule.
Passengers booked ASAP on connections through Middle East/SE Asia and you might even get lucky minimising compensation - especially if Perth wasn't final destination. Plus don't risk further onboard claims.
Tim Dunn would say if this was A350-1000.
The premium bed bugs would still be profitable and due to bed bugs the plane would be used on TPAC instead.
Masterclass.
Eskimosabe, he’s back on the site, so maybe he’ll soon tell us himself!
I'm spraying Tim facts all over to welcome his return.