El Al Re‑opens Tel Aviv–San Francisco Flights to Boost Tech Ties

El Al Airlines will begin nonstop service between Tel Aviv and San Francisco on October 25, offering three weekly flights that last about 15 hours. The carrier chose flight number LY49 as a nod to the city’s famed football team, the 49ers.

The decision follows requests from business leaders and Israelis in California for a direct link between Israel’s capital and Silicon Valley, the world’s leading technology hub.

El Al previously operated this route from late 2018 until early 2020, when the COVID‑19 pandemic forced it to pause. Re‑launching the flight is part of a broader plan to expand international travel and connect more U.S. cities with Israel.

In addition to the new San Francisco service, El Al already offers direct flights to New York, Miami, Boston and Los Angeles. The airline also plans to add up to 12 new Boeing 787 Dreamliners, increasing capacity on long‑haul routes.

The expansion reflects growing demand from Israeli businesses operating in the U.S. and a sizable Israeli community in California. By cutting travel time, El Al hopes to make it easier for entrepreneurs and tech workers to move between the two countries.

This move signals that airlines are eager to recover from pandemic losses and meet the needs of a global, tech‑driven workforce. It also demonstrates how airlines can use route naming and cultural references to strengthen brand identity while serving practical travel needs.