Hawaiian Airlines and Japan Airlines want permission — in the form of immunity from U.S. anti-trust laws — to start a joint venture they say will benefit customers.

The companies filed an application with the U.S. Department of Transportation and Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. If approved, it would be Hawaiian’s first joint venture, and the first in the United States not involving one of the three largest U.S. carriers.

The joint venture would expand on a codeshare the two companies started in March, allowing them to coordinate marketing and sales, share costs and split revenues on jointly operated routes.

The airlines’ application pointed to increased efficiency to “create a cascade of consumer benefits including lower fares, increased capacity and enhanced consumer choice.”

The companies estimate the joint venture will foster an additional 162,000 to 350,000 passengers to Hawai’i and contribute $184.5–402.3 million to the U.S. economy annually while generating between 1,855–4,049 U.S. jobs.

“We have long admired JAL’s excellent service, which corresponds well with the authentic Hawaiian hospitality we offer,” Peter Ingram, president and CEO, Hawaiian Airlines, said in a statement. “This joint venture will combine two premier brands in the highly competitive Japan-Hawaii market and travelers from both of our countries will benefit.”