If St. Elias were not in heaven (i.e., enjoying the beatific vision), it would be scandalous to pray to him in the liturgy.
I had considered that, but just because he has a liturgical feast day, does that mean that the Church necessarily prays to him? The NO collect doesn't say anything about asking for his intercession.
Whilst I'm not positive, I can't think of any collect for Mass in the Western Rites that prays to the Saint in question.
I'm not sure that any of them directly pray to the saint, but many are addressed to God asking for the prayers to be heard through the saint's intercession. e.g.
Feast of St. Jane Frances Fremoit de Chantal:
"Almighty and merciful God, who didst endow blessed Jane Frances with wonderful strength of soul, and wast pleased to lead her, burning always with love of Thee, through every path of life along the way of perfection; and by means of her didst bless Thy Church with new and illustrious spiritual offspring: graciously regard her merits and
her prayers, and grant that we, who fully conscious of our own weakness, pul all our trust in the strength which comes from Thee, may by the help of Thy grace, overcome all things which withstand us. Through our Lord."
Feast of SS. Timothy, Hippolytus, and Symphorian:
"Deny us not, O merciful lord, Thy help: but
listening to the prayers of Thy blessed martyrs Timothy, Hippolytus and Symphorian, stretch forth over us the right hand of Thy merciful forgiveness. Through our Lord."
But it is true that not all the collects use this sort of language (e.g. the feast if St. Philip Benizi does not), and I have no idea how much of it was cut out of the Novus Ordo.