Exhibit 5.1

June 1, 2015

Expeditors International of Washington, Inc.

1015 Third Avenue, 12th Floor

Seattle, Washington 98104

Re: Registration Statement on Form S-8

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to Expeditors International of Washington, Inc., a Washington corporation (the “Company”), in connection with a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), relating to up to 3,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value, of the Company (the “Shares”) that may be issued pursuant to the 2015 Stock Option Plan (the “Plan”).

We have examined such documents and have reviewed such questions of law as we have considered necessary or appropriate for the purposes of our opinions set forth below. In rendering our opinions set forth below, we have assumed the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the genuineness of all signatures and the conformity to authentic originals of all documents submitted to us as copies. We have also assumed the legal capacity for all purposes relevant hereto of all natural persons. As to questions of fact material to our opinions, we have relied upon certificates or comparable documents of officers and other representatives of the Company and of public officials

Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Shares, when issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of the Plan, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

Our opinions expressed above are limited to the laws of the State of Washington.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Dorsey & Whitney LLP

KRA/CJB

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