El Al Israel Airlines has announced the resumption of its nonstop flights between Tel Aviv and San Francisco, set to begin on October 25. This decision comes in response to significant demand from both the business sector and the Israeli community residing in the San Francisco Bay Area, a major hub for technology and innovation.

Connecting Two Tech Hubs

The airline will operate three weekly flights, each lasting approximately 15 hours, under the flight number LY49, a nod to the San Francisco 49ers football team. Shlomi Zafrani, El Al’s vice president of commerce and sales, highlighted the importance of San Francisco as a global center for technology and business, emphasizing the large Israeli community in the region.

The route was previously operational from late 2018 until early 2020, when it was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The resumption of this route is part of El Al’s broader expansion strategy, which includes the acquisition of up to 12 additional Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft to enhance its long-haul capabilities.

Expanding U.S. Connections

With the addition of the San Francisco route, El Al will increase its nonstop flights from Israel to major U.S. cities, which currently include New York, Miami, Boston, and Los Angeles. This expansion reflects the growing demand for direct travel options between Israel and the United States, particularly in regions with strong business and cultural ties.

As the airline industry continues to recover from the impacts of the pandemic, El Al’s strategic moves aim to strengthen its position in the competitive international travel market, providing more convenient options for travelers between these two dynamic regions.

Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.