ON SBY - The B737-700 has ( for a 737 ) extremely long-legs - and is veritably a "Phoaaarrr, babe !" amongst 737's ( after the 737-BBJ2 that is ) in that it can lift more weight ( 70.1 tonnes ) cruises higher ( FL410 ), cruise faster ( M0.785 ), and goes further ( 3752 statute miles ) than can it's equivalent ( 148 seat ) -300 predecessor ( which can only manage 62.8 tonnes, FL370, M0.745, 2592 statute miles ) - accordingly the B737-700 is one hell of a machine !
Astraeus operate -700's flight on both their Egyptian and Israeli routes and accordingly the flights are straight there and straight back, albeit that the TLV's presently give lay-overs of between 1 and 4 days.
MaxMet - I'm afraid that it's market forces at play, and it's effecting all sections of the industry.