This from the
Boeing web site -
B737-300
Engines 22,000lb thrust
Maximum fuel 20,105 Ltr
Maximum t/o weight 62.8 Tonnes
Typical cruise at 35,000' is 430 Kt / M.745
Maximum range 2256Nm
B737-700
Engines thrust 24,200 lb
Maximum fuel 26,035 Ltr
Maximum t/o weight 70.1 Tonnes
Typical cruise at 35,000' is 461Kt / M.785
Maximum range 3263Nm
So, when compared to a -300, a -700
Has 10% more thrust
Carries 30% more fuel
Can takeoff weighing 12% more
Cruises 7% faster
And, overall can fly
45% further courtesy of the highly efficient newer engines and a newly designed wing !
So yes, if needs be a B737-700 could indeed do a LGW / EWR or JFK (roughly a great circle distance of 3020 Nm) - albeit that this is not actually the proposed routing (but it makes a good rumour) and also, as it is not yet ETOPS approved, any such flight aboard a -700 would have to obey the 60' rule - but it's certainly possible.
Now as far as our LGW crew are concerned, the new secure car park facility is just down the road, and you're bussed from it to HQ to sign-in.
From there you are also bussed direct to the aircraft, albeit that outbound you have to briefly jump off to clear security at Atlantic House.
On the return you are picked up from the aircraft and delivered to HQ, and thence the car parking facility.
I for one can vouch that it definitely beats operating out of LGW's X car park and Concorde House !
W.r.t. mutterings of Mercury problems, I recall where that comes from - and accordingly it might pay to get your facts straight, prior to putting finger to keyboard, i.e. the problem / contamination you refer did indeed occur, and was during a period when a certain aircraft was being operated by Garuda Indonesia.
That aircraft was subsequently used by BWA and was registered as
G-OBWZ.
I'm sure that you will be pleased to hear that the -300's which Astraeus are operating are the ex-BWA
G-OBWX &
G-OBWY - and both are in fine form - as indeed are our -700's (which being nearly brand new they should be)
Incidentally, G-OBWZ is now being operated by GoFly - aka EasyJet
Whilst I'm at it, and for the record, all of our aircraft have either been or are going through 'C' Checks - with any eye to total fleet reliability very much in mind, i.e. the last thing we need when starting our new venture would be a fleet reliability problem.
As such the 'C' checks have been
rigorous, indeed to the point that we have delayed accepting the aircraft from the hangar (when we could have done) in favour of having it just right !
And finally, thank god Astraeus is not BA because they (BA) just lost £200m !
Ps. You might have misheard when your friends apparently said it was LAX, what they meant was RELAXED - but always professional.
