The 15-hour direct flight is designed to meet growing demand from the Israeli and business communities in the San Francisco Bay Area and Silicon Valley; flight number departing Israel will be LY49, a nod to the local football team, the San Francisco 49ers El Al is continuing to expand its U.S. operations, announcing Monday the launch of a new direct route to San Francisco beginning Oct. 25. The new route, to be operated three times a week on Dreamliner aircraft, is intended to meet growing demand from... [1310 chars]