Bed bug infestation prompts Hawaii airport to close several gates

Hawaii’s largest airport was forced to close down several gates after an infestation of bed bugs was found last week, officials said. 

On Monday, the Hawaii Department of Transportation received a report indicating that the bugs had been found at the Daniel K. Impute International Airport in Honolulu. 

The discovery prompted officials to close down three gates in two main terminals of the airport, while they investigated the matter further and took action to remove the unwanted guests. 

Cleaning crews conducted a deep clean of the area and removed some of the items that were thought to have brought the bed bugs into the airport. 

The following day, however, a manager of Southwest Airlines contacted the Hawaii Department of Transportation reporting that more bugs had been spotted at the gates. He sent a sample to the agency, which confirmed that the bed bugs were still there. 

The cleaning staff once again returned to the area to conduct a second deep clear, this time pulling off some of the carpets and spraying pest control, according to State Transportation Director Ed Sniffen. Gates E-5, E-6, and E-7 remained closed throughout Wednesday.

 “Additional deep cleaning will take place per recommendations over the next three weeks to prevent a recurrence. Southwest and the Hawaii Occupational Safety and Health Division have been updated on the actions HDOT is taking,” Sniffen said. 

It is unclear where the bed bugs originated from. However, there is no indication that the bugs spread onto any flight. 

“Bedbugs are transmitted from place to place as people travel,” according to Hawaii’s Disease Outbreak Control Division. “They can be in the seams and folds of luggage, overnight bags, folded clothes, bedding, furniture, or anywhere else they find a place to hide.”

This is not the first time an airport has been affected by bed bugs. In 2018, Kansas City International Airport found bed bugs in upholstered chairs in the sitting area near several restaurants. The area of the terminal was temporarily closed to clean up the bugs.