SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr 22, 2026--
The Dominican flagship airline, Arajet, announced a strategic partnership with former Major League Baseball player and Hall of Famer David Ortiz to incorporate the renowned Ron Ozama into the onboard experience across all its flights.
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Through this collaboration, Arajet passengers will be able to enjoy Ron Ozama as part of the Dominican products offered onboard, further strengthening the international projection of the country’s culture.
This initiative is part of the airline’s commitment to continue highlighting the best of the Dominican Republic in every aspect of the travel experience, integrating brands and products that represent the identity, flavor, and pride of the nation.
“For us, it’s a source of pride to partner with such an admired and beloved figure as David Ortiz to bring an authentically Dominican product to the thousands of passengers who travel with our airline every month. This alliance reflects our commitment to continue promoting the talent and brands that represent the best of our country,” said Víctor Pacheco, founder and CEO of Arajet.
For his part, David Ortiz highlighted that this collaboration will allow travelers of different nationalities to discover and enjoy a rum that represents the essence and hospitality of the Dominican Republic, while expanding its international presence, especially in the United States.
“Ron Ozama is part of our culture and our joy. Being able to bring it onboard a Dominican airline that continues to expand throughout the region is a great opportunity to share a piece of our country with the world,” Ortiz stated.
With this alliance, Arajet continues to strengthen its value proposition as an ambassador of Dominican identity in the skies, while expanding its network of destinations across the Americas and consolidating itself as one of the fastest-growing airlines in the region.
About Arajet
Arajet is the flagship airline of the Dominican Republic. It was recognized at the World Aviation Summit as the Best New Airline in the World in 2023. Since the start of its operations in 2022, it has operated two main bases: Las Américas International Airport in Santo Domingo and Punta Cana International Airport, with a modern fleet of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. The airline connects the Dominican Republic with various destinations in North America, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean, offering safe and affordable travel.
For more information, visit www.arajet.com
Víctor Pacheco, Founder and CEO of Arajet Airlines, and Hall of Famer David Ortiz
NEW YORK (AP) — Fashionistas knew this already: “Fashion is Art.” But how will Met Gala guests interpret that dress code at this year’s extravaganza?
Last year’s theme, “Tailored For You,” led to a lot of great suits; this year’s promises to produce some truly flamboyant attire as guests mount the famous carpeted steps on May 4. As always, the dress code is inspired by the spring exhibit at the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. “Costume Art” will pair some 200 art objects with 200 garments to highlight the connection between fashion and art through the centuries.
Here are some key things to know as fashion’s biggest night approaches:
As always, the first Monday in May.
It’s a fundraiser for the Costume Institute, the only self-funding department at the Met — and it's a huge one. Last year the evening brought in a record sum of more than $31 million.
None other than Beyoncé, a familiar gala guest, is a co-chair, joined by Nicole Kidman,tennis champ Venus Williams and the one who runs it all, Vogue’s Anna Wintour. There's also a “host committee” chaired by designer Anthony Vaccarello and filmmaker Zoë Kravitz, and featuring names from Sabrina Carpenter and Teyana Taylor to Lena Dunham and Misty Copeland.
“The exhibition and benefit are made possible by Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos,” said a Met press release in February. We tried, but the museum won’t say how much the Amazon founder and his wife, as lead sponsors and honorary chairs, are contributing. Protest against their participation has come from an activist group called Everyone Hates Elon, which posted an Instagram video of members hacking subway display cases to post anti-billionaire messages.
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who took office on an affordability platform, told the local news outlet Hell Gate he will not attend. Among past New York mayors who've attended is Eric Adams, who wore a tuxedo with the words “End Gun Violence” on the back in 2022.
Yes, new digs. “Costume Art” will inaugurate the Conde M. Nast Galleries, created from what was formerly the museum’s retail store and occupying nearly 12,000 square feet (1,115 square meters) off the museum’s Great Hall.
Aside from giving fashion a grander display space, this means gala guests now can stroll easily between the show and the dinner at the Temple of Dendur. In a more lasting way, it will prevent snaking lines elsewhere in the museum once the show opens to the public May 10.
Despite the prominence of classic body shapes through art history, curator Andrew Bolton has made sure there’s an element of body positivity in his exhibit, with sections on body types long ignored in art: the corpulent body, for example, and the disabled body. And he’s added 25 new mannequins that reflect these body types. Nine real-life people — including disability activist Sinéad Burke and musician Yseult — allowed their bodies to be digitally scanned for the mannequins, which will also bear mirror-like polished steel surfaces so viewers can see themselves.
The Met Gala started in 1948 as a Manhattan society midnight supper — held at various places like the Waldorf Astoria and the Rainbow Room. It took many years before it turned into a global event and one of the starriest nights of the year.
No. You must be rich, famous or powerful enough to be invited.
Individual tickets are $100,000., and a table of 10 starts at $350,000. There will be approximately 400 guests in all.
After the carpet, guests enter the museum, check in (and get stickers placed over their phone cameras!) and walk past an enormous flower arrangement in the museum’s lobby. Often there is an orchestra playing.
After hitting the receiving line, everyone heads either to cocktails, or to the exhibit. Then to dinner. By the main course, most tardy guests have managed to arrive, but not all. Some even wait ’til dessert.
Then again, occasionally, you’ll see a guest or two leave before dinner even starts. They must have a REALLY great after-party to attend.
For more coverage of the 2026 Met Gala, visit: https://apnews.com/hub/met-gala
FILE - Zendaya Coleman attends The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute benefit gala in New York on May 6, 2024. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)
A Di Petsa dress by designer Dimitra Petsa appears on a pregnant mannequin, from left, an ensemble by Michaela Stark on a mannequin in Stark's image, a Burberry ensemble by Christopher Bailey on a mannequin image of Sinéad Burke, foreground, an ensemble by designer Karoline Vitto, on a mannequin model of Charlie Reynolds, and an outfit by designer Maria Grazia Chiuri for the House of Dior on a mannequin model of Yseult, are displayed in a room at the Metropolitan Museum of Art during preparations for the Met Gala exhibit "Costume Art" on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)
FILE - Lauren Sánchez Bezos, left, and Jeff Bezos appear at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in Los Angeles on March 15, 2026. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)
FILE - Vogue editor Anna Wintour attends The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute benefit gala on May 6, 2019, in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, File)
Beyonce appears at a campaign event in Houston, on Oct. 25, 2024, left, Nicole Kidman appears at the 30th Critics Choice Awards Santa Monica, Calif., on Feb. 7, 2025, center, and Venus Williams appears at the 10th Breakthrough Prize Ceremony in Los Angeles on April 13, 2024. (AP Photo)
