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

El Al Airlines will start flying nonstop between Tel Aviv and San Francisco on October 25, offering three weekly trips that last about 15 hours. The airline chose the flight number LY49 as a nod to the city’s famous football team, the 49ers. The move comes after business leaders and Israelis in California asked for a direct link between Israel’s capital and Silicon Valley, the world’s leading technology hub. El Al had served 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 grow international travel and connect more U. S. cities with Israel.The airline also plans to add up to 12 new Boeing 787 Dreamliners, which will help carry more passengers on long‑haul flights. In addition to the new San Francisco service, El Al already offers direct trips to New York, Miami, Boston and Los Angeles. The decision reflects growing demand from Israeli businesses that operate in the U. S. , as well as a large Israeli community living in California. By cutting travel time, the airline hopes to make it easier for entrepreneurs and tech workers to move between the two countries. This expansion signals that airlines are eager to recover from pandemic losses and meet the needs of a global, tech‑driven workforce. It also shows how airlines can use route naming and cultural references to strengthen brand identity while serving practical travel needs.