United’s Tel Aviv-San Francisco Flight to Take Off Daily

Mickey Hamo, a celebrity Israeli chef who owns a chain of kosher bakeries, will be working with United Airlines to provide top-of-the-line pastries for business class customers on routes to New York and San Francisco. With the announcement, United has added a third Israeli celebrity chef to its kitchens. Hamo will join Meir Adoni and Aviv Moshe in designing the meals on board.

Along with the announcement on hiring Hamo, United also announced that it was increasing the frequency of flights between Tel Aviv and San Francisco. Currently flying three times a week, the route will become a daily flight beginning October 7. The route has proven to be among United’s most popular, with every seat filled on every flight. The daily flight will arrive in San Francisco at 6 a.m. local time, allowing Israelis to get to work right away.

Avi Friedman, director of United Airlines Israel, said that the airline was negotiating to open a business lounge for passengers at Ben Gurion Airport, similar to lounges in airports around the world. If it succeeds, United will be the first airline other than El Al to have such a lounge. All airlines currently use a lounge operated by the airport.

However, Friedman is doubtful that space can be found for a United-only lounge. “When Terminal Three was built it did not take into consideration the possibility of lounges for airlines. If possible, Star Alliance, the international consortium of airlines, would take space for all its member airlines.”

In addition to the San Francisco flight, Friedman said that United was set to begin a flight to Havana from Newark. Israelis who wish to fly on to Havana will have a one-hour connection at Newark before the next leg of the flight.