SEATTLE - December 20, 1996 - In an effort to expand its seamless distribution and logistics services, Airborne Express announced today a joint venture with their European partner Van Ommeren Intexo Logistics Services (Intexo), effective January 2, 1997. The joint venture has produced Airborne Express Netherlands B.V., which represents over 75 years of experience in transportation and logistics services.

Intexo currently has a partnership with Airborne’s subsidiary, Advanced Logistics Services (ALS). Through its relationship with ALS, Intexo runs logistics programs with well-known consumer goods companies. Additionally, Intexo provides service for Airborne’s International Express product. The joint venture enables Airborne to consolidate its International Air Express, Air Freight Forwarding, Ocean Services, Brokerage and Logistics services by utilizing existing warehousing operations located in Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport.

"With this agreement, Airborne continues its tradition of offering customized solutions to its varied customer base of corporate customers," said John Birds, Airborne vice president of Europe, South Africa and the Middle East. "The new joint venture signifies Airborne’s expanding network of offices and joint ventures, most recently in South Africa, Japan and Thailand."

The move coincides with the dissolution of Airborne’s current relationship with Road Air, who provided forwarding services for Airborne in the Netherlands. "We wish Road Air the best of luck in all their future endeavors, " said Jack Cella, Airborne executive vice president, international. "As the business needs of our customers evolved, we found ourselves in a position that demanded a single partner that could provide integrated distribution solutions internationally."

Van Ommeren Intexo Logistics Services offers a complete European distribution network in fifteen European countries. Headquartered in Rotterdam, it has over 850 employees and operates through logistic centers located in the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Germany and Belgium.

For more than 50 years, Airborne Express has served shipping needs of business customers around the world. Today, Airborne offers total distribution solutions by providing time-sensitive delivery of documents, letters, small packages and freight to virtually every U.S. ZIP code and more than 200 countries. Customers can select from a variety of services including same-day, next-morning, next-afternoon or second-day delivery, ocean service and logistics management.