Originally Posted by
IcePaq
Back in the 70's twins couldn't fly over expanses of water or other terrain where they didn't have a suitable alternate airfield to drop in to PDQ.
I'm alarmed that this wasn't said in the first reply because it's the correct answer.
It may be an answer, but not to the question posed by the OP
What was considered long-haul in the 70s and what now?
Actually, I'm not convinced (ETOPS notwithstanding) that there has been any material change in the generally accepted demarcation between short-haul and long-haul over the years, apart from possibly the addition of the ultra-long-haul category, which didn't really exist in the 70s.