Brief
Qantas chief says seat‑cover removal failed to stop bed bugs on Perth‑Rome flight
CEO Vanessa Hudson said the airline removed seat covers on the Perth‑Rome flight but the measures did not fully eliminate the infestation.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Qantas chief executive Vanessa Hudson told reporters on October 16 that the airline discovered bed bugs on flight QF5 before it left Perth for Rome and removed the aircraft’s seat covers in an attempt to eradicate the insects. Hudson said the effort was insufficient, and the plane later required a deep clean and sterilisation in Sydney before returning to service.
Passengers on the 16‑hour Boeing 787 Dreamliner reported seeing bugs crawling on their bodies, clothing, luggage and even the airline’s blankets during the flight. One passenger, Hailey Bagnall, described the insects climbing up her husband’s shoes and along her legs. The incident followed earlier reports from the Sydney‑to‑Perth leg of the same service, where travelers first spotted the pests and alerted cabin crew.
After the Perth‑Rome leg, Qantas cancelled the return flight to allow a thorough cleaning. Hudson said the airline destroyed the contaminated seat covers and carpets and applied a deep sterilisation process. She apologised to affected customers, calling the situation “very unfortunate and distressing.”
Hudson also used the occasion to announce a new training facility in Welshpool, Western Australia, which will prepare 1,200 staff for Qantas and Jetstar operations. She noted that the Perth‑Rome route remains the only direct Europe service, while the airline continues to route Perth‑Paris flights via Singapore for fuel‑efficiency reasons.
Key facts
- Qantas discovered bed bugs on flight QF5 before it departed Perth for Rome (smh.com.au)
- The airline removed seat covers in Perth but said the action did not fully eradicate the bugs (smh.com.au)
- A deep clean, sterilisation and destruction of seat covers and carpets were carried out in Sydney (smh.com.au)
- Passengers reported bugs on bodies, clothing, luggage and blankets during the 16‑hour flight (smh.com.au)
- CEO Vanessa Hudson apologised and announced a new training facility for 1,200 staff in Welshpool (smh.com.au)
Sources
- [1] smh.com.au — originally reported as “Qantas removed seat covers before Perth to Rome bed bug flight”
