The whole point to this is that it is a noted Japanese newspaper where the article appears to have come from. This needs to be taken seriously because, if any of you care to look around, you'll see Japanese tourists travelling to lots more countries in the world than they ever used to.
And I can identify with everything in that article. Many airlines do, if fact, abdicate their responsibility for DVT (and maybe even air rage?) by showing idiotic videos of leg and foot exercises that are, quite simply, impossible to undertake in most cattle class accommodation. Indeed, last month, I had the dubious honour of flying from HKG to LHR, using a well known air carrier, using a popular 4-engined passenger aircraft, where the leg room was just about non-existent.
Yes, indeed, I understand the increasing costs that all airlines face these days. If fares have to go up, to account for a worldwide standard of minimum leg room, passengers would applaud - none more loudly than those who travel on long-haul flights. And I believe that a level playing field in this regard would force greater competition and, therefore, either an airfare increase will be minimal or in-flight services will improve, or a combination of the two.
Maybe this topic would be better received in the Passengers and SLF forum?