United Airlines, Continental Airlines and All Nippon Airways have applied for antitrust immunity so they can work together on flights across the Pacific.

If granted, it would remove competition rules on routes between the US and Japan for the so-called Star Alliance.

The alliance already sells tickets on each other’s planes, but they want the opportunity to jointly manage schedules, prices and sales.

The request has been filed with the US Transportation Department.

Antitrust laws usually keep businesses from coordinating prices and schedules.

Immunity from those laws can be granted in certain cases, if it is decided that consumers would benefit more from businesses working together.