United Airlines to launch non-stop Tel Aviv-San Francisco route
US Ambassador to Israel Shapiro says announcement welcome news that would strengthen US- Israel ties.
By NIV ELISUpdated: OCTOBER 8, 2015 22:38A United Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner lands at San Francisco International Airport, San Francisco, California, February 15, 2015.(photo credit: REUTERS)
It’s about to get a little easier to do business between Silicon Valley and the Startup Nation.United Airlines on Thursday announced it will launch a nonstop flight between Tel Aviv and San Francisco.The three new flights will begin on April 1, just four months after American Airlines lays to rest its nonstop flight between Tel Aviv and Philadelphia.“We’re very excited about introducing nonstop service between Tel Aviv and San Francisco with the customer- pleasing Dreamliner,” said Avi Friedman, United’s managing director of sales in Israel. “This is a response to demand from our customers for direct flights to one of the United States’ most popular business and tourism destinations, with the added benefit of convenient onward connections from our San Francisco International hub.”The 787-9 Dreamliner flights will depart Tel Aviv at 12:55 a.m. on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays and land in San Francisco at 6:00 a.m.the same day. The returns will depart San Francisco at 8:00 p.m. on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays and arrive in Tel Aviv at 8:10 p.m. the following days.US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro said the announcement was welcome news that would strengthen ties between the US and Israel.“These flights will facilitate technology exchanges between hi-tech firms on the West Coast of the United States and the start-up community here in Israel, as well as people-to-people engagement between Israelis and Americans,” he said.While American Airlines canceled its Tel Aviv-Philadelphia route, El Al recently added direct flights to Boston, and European low-cost carrier Ryanair announced new routes between Europe and Eilat’s Uvda Airport.