A330

More snaps from Fiji Airways A330 send-off

Fiji Airways had a party at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Tuesday to celebrate this Airbus A330 airplane,  which will start flying between LAX and Fiji in July as the airline ramps up service between LAX and Nadi International Airport (NAN).

Fiji Airways new plane

I wrote earlier about the airline’s new livery, the Fijian artist who created the livery that’s on the airplane and the meaning of the symbols in the Masi design. And although I didn’t get to join the group that flew on this plane to Fiji, I wanted to share a few more images from the send-off event that took place at the Flight Path Learning Center – Museum at LAX.

First a few snaps from the Fiji Airways event. To kick off the evening, there was a short performance by a troupe of Fiji warriors.

FIJI WARRIORS

I was a bit intimidated by these fellows, until I spotted them later snacking on some of the cupcakes decorated with the new airplane’s logo that we’d all been patiently waiting to devour. Turns out these warriors are Fijiians living in Utah.

Fiji warrior eating cupcake

P1010003

Another surprise of the evening was being in the Flight Path Learning Center – Museum, which is adjacent to the LAX airfield and a superb spot for plane spotting.

There’s plenty to spot in the museum’s exhibits as well, including a great collection of airline purses and bags –

LAX MUSEUM BAGS

These charming Pan Am footies –

LAX MUSEUM PAN AM FOOTIES

All manner of airplane models and airline uniforms and some very collectible books.

LAX MUSEUM BOOKS

Fiji Airways rebrand ready to take off in US

Fiji Airways cupcakes

(Very decadent) cupcakes show off the new Fiji Airways livery

Air Pacific’s makeover continues with the next step of its rebranding as Fiji Airways, the name the airline originally had back in 1951.

Fiji Airways new plane

Fiji Airways had a reception at Los Angeles International Airport on Tuesday to welcome its newest airplane – an Airbus A330 named – Namuka-I-Lau —which is not only the name of one of Fiji’s 333 islands, but the island where Makereta Matemosi lives. She’s the Fijian artist commissioned to create the design for the airline’s new livery, which originates from traditional Fijian art form known as Masi.

Fijian artist Makereta Matemosi

Fijian artist Makereta Matemosi demonstrating how she makes her Masi designs.

At the event, Matemosi explained the different meanings behind the various motifs in her Masi design for the new Fiji Airways brandmark, which has as its centerpiece the Teteva.

Fiji Airways Brandmark Symbol

The big circle has four crosses at its ‘corners,’ which are meant to signify interconnection and the way the airline connects people to the Fiji Islands. The inner circle reflects the spiritual values of the Fijian people, and the middle, which has sixteen petal shapes, is meant to reflect people working together.

Matemosi said the innermost part of the design – the diamond – represents love.

This new Airbus A330 airplane, one of three the airline is adding to its fleet, will begin flying from Los Angeles to Fiji on July 1, 2013.

Fiji Airways engine

Fiji Airways wing