Venezuelan airport charges customers for fresh air

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Cheryl Santa Maria

Digital Reporter

Friday, July 11, 2014, 5:51 PM - Passengers departing from the Simon Bolivar International Airport of Maiquetia in Caracas can add another fee to their list.

They're now being charged a levy of 127 bolivars (approximately $22 CAD) to fund an air conditioning system that was installed earlier this year.

According to a statement on the airport's website the cooling system rids the atmosphere of "contaminants" and circulates ozone in an effort to improve health.

This so-called "breathing tax" went into effect on July 1 is being applied to all domestic and international travelers at check-in.

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Some passengers have taken to Twitter to voice their outrage.

"Maiquetia airport is 36C, it must be the injection of ozone that makes the temperature shoot up," @ELvDav writes, as translated by CNN.

"Could you explain to me the ozone thing in Maiquetia? The toilets have no water, the air-con is broken, there are stray dogs inside the airport, but there's ozone?" @DanielMartinezD asked.

With files from CNN

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