HC Deb 06 November 1968 vol 772 c886
35. Mr. Rankin

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will define the official terms "short haul" and "medium haul" in so far as commercial air flights are concerned.

Mr. William Rodgers

There is no official definition of the terms "short haul" and "medium haul" but the former generally means a flight of under 1,000 miles and the latter a flight of 1,000 to 2,000 miles.

Mr. Rankin

As there is no official definition of these terms and as they are never applied to ships of the sea, why should they be applied to ships of the air, particularly in view of the enormous development which aircraft engines have undergone in the last few years?

Mr. Rodgers

There is no international definition, but it is useful to have a "shorthand" method of defining aircraft of this type and it serves a purpose.