Bedbugs have been the scourge of the earth for centuries. In the travel world, they’re most often associated with hotels (here’s how to see if your hotel has been reported for bed bugs). However it wasn’t long ago that I learned they can hang out in planes, too. So it’s not really that surprising to learn an airport in Hawaii is shutting down multiple gates for the next 3 weeks, due to a bed bug infestation.
Last week, the Hawaii Department of Transportation (DOT) received reports of pests in the E Gates of Terminal 2 in Hawaii’s largest airport, Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, in Honolulu. In response, officials cleaned the entire area on Monday and removed items that could potentially have attracted bugs.
Airport officials were hoping that would fix the problem, but on Tuesday, a manager from Southwest Airlines contacted HDOT again, saying the bugs were still there. The DOT was able to collect a sample, which confirmed the pests were bed bugs.
With that, Gates E-5, E-6, and E-7 were closed on Tuesday and Wednesday while they underwent a deep cleaning, carpet extraction, and non-toxic bug spray. Officials also say a pest control company was called in for preventative measures.
An HDOT representative said more cleaning measures will continue over the next three weeks. During that time, travelers may encounter intermittent gate closures.
HDOT Director Ed Sniffen said, in part, “Additional deep cleaning will take place per recommendations over the next three weeks to prevent recurrence. Southwest and the Hawaii Occupational Safety and Health Division have been updated on the actions HDOT is taking.”
Flight operations have not been impacted.
Featured Photo: Terminix
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1 comment
Bed bugs are killed with heat. I would avoid those gates until they get there act together. Unless they kill each bug one by one.