(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 had a reception at Los Angeles International Airport on Tuesday to welcome its newest airplane – an Airbus A330 named Taveuni – which is not only the name of one of Fiji’s 333 islands (“The Garden Island”), 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 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.

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.

Many flights to and from Oklahoma City have been canceled and, if you were headed that way for a business event or some other non-essential visit, you probably want to stay away for now.

Here are a list of airlines that posted notices about refunds and change fee waivers as of Monday evening.

I’ll add others as I find them.

Delta Air Lines

Frontier Airlines

Southwest Airlines

I saw the Air Racers IMAX 3D movie at the Pacific Science Center in Seattle (along with what appeared to be a lot of dads with their 8 year old sons) but if you scroll to the bottom of the film info page, you’ll see that the film is also playing in numerous cities around the country – and around the world.

That’s what I kept telling myself during what I could not believe was an almost day-long bout of seasickness on a less than 48-hour cruise on the Celebrity Solstice from Seattle to …. nowhere.

The waters were calm. The scenery in the Strait of Juan de Fuca was lovely. And some people – not me – spotted Orca whales in the water.

I was a guest of Celebrity Cruises, so I toured the ship, watched a bit of a show and  made time for two (maybe it was three) scoops of guava gelato. I tried using the on-board wireless to get some work done, but because the service was complimentary for everyone on this short trip, the lines were were clogged up. (As were the bathrooms in my cabin section for a few hours.)

But I’m really glad I finally perked up and felt better.

Because the 2nd night on the ship I made my way to the top deck and watched an outdoor glassmaking show put on by a trio of entertaining and informative glass artists on loan from New York’s Corning Museum of Glass (CMOG).

They were not cruise-ship corny.

They were not selling anything.

They were not rushing through their show.

And each took a turn on the microphone enthusiastically answering questions from the audience while another created a truly lovely work of art.

It turns out that at least three of Celebrity Cruises’ Solstice class ships (Celebrity Solstice, Celebrity Equinox, and Celebrity Eclipse) include a permanent hotshop where CMOG staff present live, narrated glassblowing demonstrations.

Great idea!

“There honestly was not a lot to take photos of,” she said, “The were two of areas with these fake plants that were spaces with unclear purposes. Are you supposed to stand in the middle and take your photo?”

After running a test of the program in several cities, American Airlines has decided to make is official:

Passengers traveling with just one small carry-on that will fit under the seat in front of them will now be allowed to board earlier than other customers – before Group 2.

The program was tested in Austin, Baltimore, Denver, Fort Lauderdale, Kansas City, Mo.,Minneapolis-St. Paul, and Washington-Dulles and the airline expects this new policy to speed up average boarding times.

No doubt it also expects to hear some whining from customers in Group 2 who will now  have to board a bit later in the process.

In September, a GoodLife Fitness Club will open in Terminal 1 at Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) offering cardiovascular equipment, strength training equipment and free weights as well as luggage storage, a lounge area with massage chairs, towel service and changing rooms with showers and lockers. No word yet on what it will cost to use the club, but workout clothing will be available for purchase for those who get inspired by the layout.

And fans of fast, free Wi-Fi at airports will soon be much happier when spending time at Detroit Metro Airport (DTW).

Advanced Wireless Group is replacing Boingo at DTW and by September will install a much speedier Wi-Fi system that will be free to use if you’re willing to watch a 30-second advertisement once every 45 minutes.

The current system offers only 30 minutes of free Wi-Fi access to travelers willing to watch a 30-second video ad.

The Moonlight Jazz Trio will perform at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport during the Jazz in the Atrium series.

The two-week program kicked off Monday night and features performances by local artists from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. each weekday through May 24.

Here’s the line-up:

May 14: Moonlight Jazz Trio

May 15: Tony Waters

May 16: Marlon Patton Trio

May 17: The Sparrow Trio

May 20:CC Booker

May 21: Trey Wright Trio

May 22: Gary Harris

May 23: Charles Marshall, The Jazz Ambassador

May 24: Life Force

At least that was the message last week at Kelowna International Airport (YLW) in British Columbia, Canada, at the second annual Safety Fashion Show.

Here are few of the models that appeared on the red carpet:

This is the airport’s wildlife control contractor, in charge of the catch and release program.

An officer from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Firefighter in gear

(Photos courtesy YLW Airport)

Photo by Jeffrey Mistein

About 20 large-scale images of aircraft taken just as they’re landing are featured in “AirCraft: The Jet as Art” by American photographer Jeffrey Milstein at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

Look for them through December 8 in the airport’s Gallery Walk art corridor, which is near the underground walkway connecting Terminal A with the parking garages. Historic aviation pieces from the College Park Aviation Museum are on display here as well.

Over at Washington Dulles International Airport, the images in “Mars As Art” feature more than 45 NASA and European Space Agency images taken by spacecraft from orbit and on the surface of Mars. Look for these images in the Gateway Gallery in the connecting walkway between the AeroTrain C-Gates and the C Concourse until November 30.

Valles Marineris, known as the Grand Canyon of Mars, which is long enough to stretch from New York City to Los Angeles.