The air traffic control company that charges airlines for taking off, landing and flying through Canadian air space will charge them less for their services starting in September, a move that could save airlines up to $100 million in the coming year.

Nav Canada said in a release Monday that it will cut its service charges by an average of 7.6 per cent starting Sept. 1, 2016. Founded 20 years ago, Nav Canada is a non-profit corporation tasked with managing the movements of 12 million planes that take off or land in Canada every year, including those that pass through Canadian airspace.

Broadly speaking, Nav Canada charges fees based on the weight of the aircraft, and the distance travelled. Under the current fee structure, an Airbus A320 full of passengers travelling from Toronto to Vancouver, for example, would pay $1,764.15 in fees to do so, according to a calculator on Nav Canada's website.

That money goes to pay for services like air traffic control, flight information, weather briefings and other in-flight communications between the cockpit and the ground.

As a non-profit, Nav Canada is mandated to only charge enough to cover its cost and maintain the system in a safe and effective way. Recent efficiencies have warranted the cuts in what the company charges its customers.

"Strong traffic growth, coupled with cost controls and targeted strategic investments in the air navigation system, have put us in a position to deliver savings to customers while increasing our planned investments in people, technology and facilities," CEO Neil Wilson said.

"These changes enable us to meet our cost recovery mandate by aligning our revenues with our costs going forward."

After ratcheting higher in the early years of the new millennium, Nav Canada has now substantively cut its fee structure three times since 2006.

Air Canada shares rose 16 cents to $9.64 in early trading Monday. WestJet stock gained 32 cents to $22.87.