El Al Israel Airlines is preparing to restore one of its longest and most strategically important US routes, with nonstop flights between Tel Aviv and San Francisco scheduled to return on October 25, 2026. The Israeli flag carrier will operate the route three times per week, reconnecting Ben Gurion International Airport with San Francisco International Airport after a service gap dating back to 2020.
The return gives passengers a direct option between Israel and the San Francisco Bay Area at a time when nonstop connectivity between the two markets remains limited. El Al is currently the only airline scheduled to operate the city pair nonstop when the service resumes, although that position could eventually change if United Airlines follows through with plans to restore its own San Francisco-Tel Aviv service.
The route also represents another expansion of El Al’s US network, which already includes major gateways such as Boston, Newark, New York, Los Angeles and Miami. San Francisco is particularly significant because of its strong technology, business and investment links with Israel, creating a market that can support both corporate and visiting-friends-and-relatives traffic.
El Al Returns to San Francisco With Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner
El Al will use its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner for the resumed San Francisco service. The aircraft will provide 271 seats across three cabins: 32 in Business Class, 35 in Premium Economy and 204 in Economy. At three weekly departures in each direction, the schedule represents 813 seats per week each way between Tel Aviv and San Francisco.
The outbound flight, numbered LY49, is scheduled to leave Ben Gurion International Airport at 11:00 a.m. and arrive at San Francisco at 4:55 p.m. local time. The westbound journey is scheduled to take approximately 14 hours and 55 minutes, putting it firmly into the ultra-long-haul category for El Al’s network.
The return flight, LY48, will depart San Francisco at 2:00 p.m. and reach Tel Aviv at 1:40 p.m. the following day. Its scheduled duration is approximately 13 hours and 40 minutes. The difference reflects the impact of prevailing winds, which can make the eastbound journey significantly shorter than the westbound flight across the Pacific.
For passengers, the 787-9 is well suited to such a long sector. Its modern cabin, lower fuel consumption and long-range capability allow El Al to operate the route without relying on a larger aircraft such as the 777. The three-cabin configuration also gives the airline flexibility to serve different segments of the market, from premium corporate travelers to leisure passengers seeking a nonstop alternative.
A Route With a Long History at San Francisco
El Al’s relationship with San Francisco is considerably older than the current service gap. The airline first began serving the city in 1996, establishing a direct connection between Israel and the US West Coast’s major technology and business center. The route has subsequently experienced several changes, including periods when service was suspended.
The most recent operation continued until 2020, when the global aviation crisis dramatically disrupted international travel. Department of Transportation data cited in the reference material indicates that about 44,000 passengers traveled on the route during that period, with an average load factor of approximately 66.9%.
That historical figure needs some context. The final period of the previous service overlapped with the COVID-19 pandemic and the route’s relatively young operating history, making it difficult to treat the load factor as a straightforward measure of the long-term potential of the market. International travel restrictions, changing schedules and unprecedented demand shocks all affected airline operations at the time.
The 2026 relaunch therefore gives El Al an opportunity to rebuild the route under very different market conditions. The airline is also returning with a modern long-haul aircraft and a schedule designed to provide a consistent three-weekly service rather than an occasional operation.
San Francisco Adds Another Major US Gateway for El Al
The restored San Francisco service expands an already substantial El Al presence in the United States. In November, based on the cited Cirium schedule data, El Al is scheduled to operate 42 weekly flights in each direction across its US network.
New York remains the airline’s largest US market. El Al has scheduled 16 weekly flights between Tel Aviv and John F. Kennedy International Airport, using Boeing 777-200ER and 787-8 aircraft. Newark follows with 11 weekly flights, operated with Boeing 777-200ER and 787-9 aircraft.
Los Angeles and Miami are each scheduled to receive six weekly El Al flights, while Boston has three. Adding three weekly San Francisco flights brings another important West Coast destination into the carrier’s network and provides a nonstop option for travelers who would otherwise need to connect through another US gateway.
The significance extends beyond the number of flights. San Francisco gives El Al access to a different economic catchment area from Los Angeles, particularly the Silicon Valley technology and venture-capital ecosystem. Direct air service can therefore serve business travel as well as passengers traveling between Israel and Northern California.
United Could Return to the Tel Aviv-San Francisco Market
El Al’s monopoly on nonstop flights between San Francisco and Tel Aviv may not last indefinitely. United Airlines is reportedly considering a return to the route as early as 2027.
United previously carried substantial traffic between the two cities, with US Department of Transportation data indicating that the airline transported close to one million round-trip passengers when it last served the market. If United eventually restores the route, San Francisco would once again have competition for nonstop Israel service.
That possibility also highlights why El Al’s October relaunch matters. The airline is establishing a presence before another major US carrier potentially re-enters the market, while passengers gain a direct option almost immediately.
Israel-US Connectivity Is Expanding Beyond El Al
El Al’s San Francisco return is also arriving alongside broader changes in the Israel-US market. Israir Airlines, Israel’s second-largest airline, has begun operating Airbus A330-200 flights between Tel Aviv and New York’s JFK.
Israir is initially scheduled to operate the route three times per week, with plans in the cited schedule data to increase to four weekly flights and eventually six weekly services. Its approach differs substantially from El Al’s full-service network, with passengers paying additional charges for items such as checked baggage, seat selection and onboard meals.
Meanwhile, United remains the largest US carrier serving Israel in the November schedule, with 18 weekly Newark-Tel Aviv flights. Delta is scheduled to operate seven weekly flights between JFK and Tel Aviv, while United also has scheduled service from Washington and Chicago.
Against that backdrop, El Al’s return to San Francisco adds another piece to an increasingly diverse Israel-US aviation network. Starting October 25, the Boeing 787-9 will once again link Tel Aviv and Northern California nonstop, with nearly 15 hours in the air on the westbound journey and a schedule that could become even more important if additional competition enters the market.
