Cockpit crew representatives are warning that the risk of a serious fire from personal electronic devices is greater than previously anticipated, and that all large devices should be banned from carriage in the aircraft baggage hold.

International pilots’ federation IFALPA says the risk of fire is “not new” but has previously been considered “acceptable”.

But changes in passenger behaviour, and research into thermal runaway, have demonstrated that even a single lithium-ion battery poses a threat when placed in the vicinity of commonly-carried flammable liquids, such as cosmetics.

While researchers once assumed passengers only packed small devices in hold baggage, to reduce the possibility of larger devices being stolen or damaged, recent data “suggests otherwise”, says the association.

“Not only do many [devices] end up in checked luggage, they are also often not powered-off or not protected against inadvertent activation, as required by regulation,” it adds.

“The different modes of laptop computers – sleep, hibernation, on, off – and their lengthy shutdown routines, especially when automatic updates are being installed, can also make passengers erroneously believe that their [device] is depowered.”

Airbus is probing a security breach involving access of information connected to its commercial aircraft activities.

The airframer says the “cyber incident” resulted in “unauthorised” access to personal data.

But it stresses that the event, centred on its commercial aircraft business information systems, had no impact on the company’s commercial operations.

Avianca Argentina announced the suspension of its international expansion plans two weeks before the launch of its Airbus A320 route between Buenos Aires and Sao Paulo.

The Argentine sister carrier of Colombia's Avianca Group says it made the decision when "taking into account the variables of the national and international markets". It asked all current ticket holders to apply for a refund, and did not offer to rebook the passengers on other carriers.

Avianca Brazil announced its own withdrawal from international routes earlier this month, but had confirmed that the Avianca Argentina-operated route between Sao Paulo and Buenos Aires would “not be affected”.