El Al to launch San Francisco flights this year
Israel flag carrier El Al will start flying to San Francisco later this year.
The Dreamliner operated route from Tel Aviv to San Francisco begins in the fourth quarter and will run three times a week.
The airline is looking at tapping the flourishing business market between Silicon Valley and Israel’s growing tech industry.
"San Francisco is an important strategic city for El Al. Our target is to take the business segment," said David Maimon, El Al’s chief executive.
"The acquisition of the Dreamliner enables us to expand our long-haul network."
He said San Francisco has long been on the radar but is only now possible after delivery of the new Dreamliner jets.
Maimon is stepping down in a few weeks with a successor expected to be named very soon.
El Al will face competition from United Airlines which launched SFO-Tel Aviv flights in 2016.
It also currently flies to New York, Miami, Boston and Los Angeles.
The Israeli government said this week tourist arrivals increased by 25% in 2017 to a record 3.6 million.
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