Exhibit 99.1

EARNINGS RELEASE

By:	Expeditors International of Washington, Inc.
	1015 Third Avenue, Suite 1200
	Seattle, Washington 98104
	CONTACT:	R. Jordan Gates
		President and Chief Operating Officer
		(206) 674-3427	FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

EXPEDITORS REPORTS RECORD QUARTERLY PROFITS OF $.39 PER SHARE

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – November 4, 2008, Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. (NASDAQ:EXPD) today announced quarterly net earnings of $85,565,000 for the third quarter of 2008, as compared with $74,320,000 for the same quarter of 2007, an increase of 15%. Net revenues for the third quarter of 2008 increased 12% to $429,127,000, as compared with $384,810,000 reported for the third quarter of 2007. Total revenues and operating income were $1,564,913,000 and $135,396,000 in 2008, as compared with $1,411,025,000 and $119,521,000 for the same quarter of 2007, increases of 11% and 13%, respectively. Diluted net earnings per share for the third quarter of 2008 were $.39, as compared with $.34 for the same quarter in 2007, an increase of 15%. The Company also reported that same store net revenues and operating income increased 11% and 13%, respectively, for the third quarter of 2008 when compared with 2007.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, net earnings rose to $223,286,000 from $199,097,000 in 2007, an increase of 12%. Net revenues for the nine months increased to $1,200,780,000 from $1,073,520,000 for 2007, up 12%. Total revenues and operating income for the nine months were $4,326,489,000 and $353,931,000 in 2008, as compared with $3,788,589,000 and $315,784,000 for the same period in 2007, increases of 14% and 12%, respectively. Diluted net earnings per share for the first three quarters of 2008 were $1.02, as compared with $.90 for the same period of 2007, an increase of 13%. Same store net revenues and operating income both increased 12%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, when compared with the same period of 2007.

“These record quarterly results make a very significant statement. They show what can be accomplished when a company’s culture rewards its employees based upon ‘real world’ profitability measurements that reinforce responsible risk and return decisions. Our profitability measurements are grounded in the kinds of economic reality that requires a long-term commitment to both generating and sustaining profitability through providing quality customer service. There are no short-term, ‘financially-engineered’ profitability gimmicks in these numbers that will unravel over time because they lack economic substance,” said Peter J. Rose, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “These results also show that we are capable of executing effectively in the face of some rather challenging circumstances. Particularly noteworthy of our continued commitment to productivity improvement is the quarter’s record-high 31.6% operating margin (operating income divided by net revenue). As always, it is the efforts of our people and their cultural buy-in that made these achievements possible. We’ve always said that we have the best people in the industry…and they continue to prove that.” Rose continued.

“The irony of reporting record quarterly profits in such tumultuous economic times is certainly not lost on us. We have great sympathy for those who have been victimized by the greed, avarice and deliberate desertion of time-proven principles of sound financial management that caused this mess in the first place. If a silver lining is to come out of all this turmoil, hopefully it will be a return to the realms of financial sanity where companies that manage prudently are differentiated from those that don’t. Fortunately for our employees, our customers and our shareholders, it is our unique culture that has always differentiated us… and it continues to do so now, at a time when such differentiation is critically needed. Here at Expeditors, we don’t need to go ‘back to basics’, because we’ve never left them.” Rose concluded.

Expeditors is a global logistics company headquartered in Seattle, Washington. The company employs trained professionals in 182 full-service offices, 69 satellite locations and 4 international service centers located on six continents linked into a seamless worldwide network through an integrated information management system. Services include air and ocean freight forwarding, vendor consolidation, customs clearance, marine insurance, distribution and other value added international logistics services.

Expeditors International of Washington, Inc.

3rd Quarter 2008 Earnings Release

November 4, 2008

Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Financial Highlights

Three months and Nine months ended

September 30, 2008 and 2007

(Unaudited)

(in thousand’s of US dollars except share data)

	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2008		2007		% Increase		2008		2007		% Increase
Revenues	$	1,564,913	$	1,411,025	11	%	$	4,326,489	$	3,788,589	14	%
Net revenues	$	429,127	$	384,810	12	%	$	1,200,780	$	1,073,520	12	%
Operating income	$	135,396	$	119,521	13	%	$	353,931	$	315,784	12	%
Net earnings	$	85,565	$	74,320	15	%	$	223,286	$	199,097	12	%
Diluted earnings per share	$	.39	$	.34	15	%	$	1.02	$	.90	13	%
Basic earnings per share	$	.40	$	.35	14	%	$	1.05	$	.93	13	%
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding		218,729,790		221,649,693				219,903,341		221,993,433
Basic weighted average shares outstanding		212,747,871		213,485,465				213,027,420		213,388,675

Offices opened during the Third Quarter of 2008

(• = Full Service, + = Satellite)

LATIN AMERICA	EUROPE	UNITED STATES
+Lázaro Cárdenas, Mexico (satellite of Guadalajara)	ŸBucharest, Romania	ŸMilwaukee, Wisconsin (formerly a satellite of Chicago)

Investors may submit written questions via e-mail to: investor@expeditors.com

Or by fax to: (206) 674-3459.

Questions received by the end of business on November 6, 2008 will be considered in management’s

8-K “Responses to Selected Questions” expected to be filed on or about November 14, 2008.

4-November-2008 Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. Page 2 of 6

EXPEDITORS INTERNATIONAL OF WASHINGTON, INC.

AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)

	September 30, 2008		December 31, 2007
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	696,349	$	574,599
Short-term investments		406		674
Accounts receivable, net		995,107		933,519
Deferred Federal and state income taxes		8,098		8,278
Other current assets		34,379		17,627
Total current assets		1,734,339		1,534,697
Property and equipment, net		501,664		497,892
Goodwill, net		7,927		7,927
Other intangibles, net		6,725		7,832
Other assets		19,682		20,717
	$	2,270,337	$	2,069,065
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		667,104		613,108
Accrued expenses, primarily salaries and related costs		154,436		129,669
Federal, state and foreign income taxes		30,727		26,976
Total current liabilities		852,267		769,753
Deferred Federal and state income taxes		61,317		55,533
Minority interest		16,869		17,208
Shareholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, par value $.01 per share.
Authorized 2,000,000 shares; none issued		—		—
Common stock, par value $.01 per share. Authorized 320,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 211,868,068 shares at September 30, 2008 and 212,996,776 shares at December 31, 2007		2,119		2,130
Additional paid-in capital		—		50,006
Retained earnings		1,328,572		1,143,464
Accumulated other comprehensive income		9,193		30,971
Total shareholders’ equity		1,339,884		1,226,571
	$	2,270,337	$	2,069,065

4-November-2008 Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. Page 3 of 6

EXPEDITORS INTERNATIONAL OF WASHINGTON, INC.

AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings

(In thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)

	Three months ended September 30,						Nine months ended September 30,
	2008			2007			2008			2007
Revenues:
Airfreight	$	703,152		$	629,071		$	1,961,797		$	1,710,747
Ocean freight and ocean services		567,155			520,312			1,530,420			1,345,945
Customs brokerage and other services		294,606			261,642			834,272			731,897
Total revenues		1,564,913			1,411,025			4,326,489			3,788,589
Operating expenses:
Airfreight consolidation		553,672			490,880			1,532,454			1,317,970
Ocean freight consolidation		454,622			424,383			1,234,829			1,088,191
Customs brokerage and other services		127,492			110,952			358,426			308,908
Salaries and related costs		224,809			205,206			646,159			585,360
Rent and occupancy costs		19,729			17,751			58,538			50,162
Depreciation and amortization		10,222			9,690			30,050			29,540
Selling and promotion		8,881			8,890			28,129			27,567
Other		30,090			23,752			83,973			65,107
Total operating expenses		1,429,517			1,291,504			3,972,558			3,472,805
Operating income		135,396			119,521			353,931			315,784
Interest expense		(23	)		(22	)		(169	)		82
Interest income		5,005			5,586			14,884			16,336
Other, net		2,225			1,038			3,337			3,468
Other income, net		7,207			6,602			18,052			19,886
Earnings before income taxes and minority interest		142,603			126,123			371,983			335,670
Income tax expense		56,457			51,750			147,710			136,225
Net earnings before minority interest		86,146			74,373			224,273			199,445
Minority interest		(581	)		(53	)		(987	)		(348	)
Net earnings	$	85,565		$	74,320		$	223,286		$	199,097
Diluted earnings per share	$	0.39		$	0.34		$	1.02		$	0.90
Basic earnings per share	$	0.40		$	0.35		$	1.05		$	0.93
Dividends declared and paid per common share	$	—		$	—		$	0.16		$	0.14
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding		218,729,790			221,649,693			219,903,341			221,993,433
Weighted average basic shares outstanding		212,747,871			213,485,465			213,027,420			213,388,675

4-November-2008 Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. Page 4 of 6

EXPEDITORS INTERNATIONAL OF WASHINGTON, INC.

AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

	Three months ended September 30,						Nine months ended September 30,
	2008			2007			2008			2007
Operating Activities:
Net earnings	$	85,565		$	74,320		$	223,286		$	199,097
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Provision for losses on accounts receivable		1,503			701			930			346
Deferred income tax expense		1,117			13,216			17,590			25,456
Excess tax benefits from stock plans		(485	)		(4,149	)		(9,880	)		(25,772	)
Stock compensation expense		11,513			11,206			34,116			34,709
Depreciation and amortization		10,222			9,690			30,050			29,540
Gain on sale of assets		(46	)		(802	)		(651	)		(1,004	)
Minority interest in earnings of consolidated entities		581			53			987			348
Other		396			369			1,328			1,057
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Increase in accounts receivable		(51,422	)		(157,406	)		(83,446	)		(170,667	)
Increase in other current assets		(2,544	)		(1,821	)		(1,867	)		(2,325	)
Increase in accounts payable and other current liabilities		13,796			79,108			95,898			141,553
Increase (decrease) in income taxes payable, net		21,482			12,029			(1,955	)		7,187
Net cash provided by operating activities		91,678			36,514			306,386			239,525
Investing Activities:
(Increase) decrease in short-term investments		(6	)		26			210			188
Purchase of property and equipment		(24,631	)		(39,650	)		(49,157	)		(70,833	)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment		106			131			287			414
Prepayment on long-term land lease		—			(40	)		—			(2,816	)
Other		635			(786	)		690			(2,386	)
Net cash used in investing activities		(23,896	)		(40,319	)		(47,970	)		(75,433	)
Financing Activities:
Net distributions to minority interests		(772	)		—			(879	)		(316	)
Repayments of short-term debt, net		—			(203	)		—			—
Proceeds from issuance of common stock		26,737			31,588			46,888			59,456
Repurchases of common stock		(75,332	)		(57,122	)		(144,920	)		(186,117	)
Excess tax benefits from stock plans		485			4,149			9,880			25,772
Dividends paid		2			—			(34,161	)		(29,902	)
Net cash used in financing activities		(48,880	)		(21,588	)		(123,192	)		(131,107	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash		(26,041	)		7,533			(13,474	)		12,839
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents		(7,139	)		(17,860	)		121,750			45,824
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		703,488			575,042			574,599			511,358
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	696,349		$	557,182		$	696,349		$	557,182
Interest and taxes paid:
Interest	$	20		$	25		$	166		$	163
Income tax		32,114			24,227			123,999			98,539

4-November-2008 Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. Page 5 of 6

EXPEDITORS INTERNATIONAL OF WASHINGTON, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Business Segment Information

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

	United States		Other N. America	Asia	Europe	Austral- Asia	Latin America	Middle East	Elimi- nations		Consoli- dated
Three months ended September 30, 2008
Revenues from unaffiliated customers	$	336,093	43,225	852,255	215,018	21,575	23,843	72,904	—		1,564,913
Transfers between geographic areas		30,709	2,883	5,624	11,966	2,307	4,425	4,757	(62,671	)	—
Total revenues	$	366,802	46,108	857,879	226,984	23,882	28,268	77,661	(62,671	)	1,564,913
Net revenues	$	165,133	19,199	119,309	74,089	13,146	14,981	23,270	—		429,127
Operating income	$	43,147	4,096	57,498	16,039	4,325	3,811	6,480	—		135,396
Identifiable assets at quarter end	$	976,454	79,031	527,520	467,859	38,139	60,000	116,698	4,636		2,270,337
Capital expenditures	$	9,207	658	9,861	3,748	49	183	925	—		24,631
Depreciation and amortization	$	5,402	371	1,686	1,611	220	332	600	—		10,222
Equity	$	1,480,452	39,480	389,404	173,682	25,478	28,922	56,352	(853,886	)	1,339,884
Three months ended September 30, 2007
Revenues from unaffiliated customers	$	273,476	36,209	825,183	174,668	18,049	20,155	63,285	—		1,411,025
Transfers between geographic areas		29,031	2,450	4,719	9,564	1,927	2,827	3,598	(54,116	)	—
Total revenues	$	302,507	38,659	829,902	184,232	19,976	22,982	66,883	(54,116	)	1,411,025
Net revenues	$	153,030	17,399	112,327	62,932	10,820	10,952	17,350	—		384,810
Operating income	$	37,465	3,971	55,772	12,965	3,236	2,044	4,068	—		119,521
Identifiable assets at quarter end	$	908,430	77,717	494,081	449,433	36,591	41,328	97,700	(71	)	2,105,209
Capital expenditures	$	4,496	304	31,058	2,095	248	194	1,255	—		39,650
Depreciation and amortization	$	5,385	334	1,166	1,773	242	384	406	—		9,690
Equity	$	1,330,031	36,581	375,287	150,828	23,384	21,307	44,117	(794,202	)	1,187,333
Nine months ended September 30, 2008
Revenues from unaffiliated customers	$	954,317	119,691	2,300,191	609,879	64,821	70,329	207,261	—		4,326,489
Transfers between geographic areas		81,632	7,579	16,364	33,725	6,599	11,381	13,293	(170,573	)	—
Total revenues	$	1,035,949	127,270	2,316,555	643,604	71,420	81,710	220,554	(170,573	)	4,326,489
Net revenues	$	468,034	53,882	322,738	212,148	37,970	41,785	64,223	—		1,200,780
Operating income	$	109,244	10,495	151,072	44,259	11,914	10,588	16,359	—		353,931
Identifiable assets at quarter end	$	976,454	79,031	527,520	467,859	38,139	60,000	116,698	4,636		2,270,337
Capital expenditures	$	20,003	1,848	16,371	7,042	402	959	2,532	—		49,157
Depreciation and amortization	$	16,172	1,011	4,439	5,060	716	969	1,683	—		30,050
Equity	$	1,480,452	39,480	389,404	173,682	25,478	28,922	56,352	(853,886	)	1,339,884
Nine months ended September 30, 2007
Revenues from unaffiliated customers	$	779,998	97,063	2,137,320	493,149	49,888	58,900	172,271	—		3,788,589
Transfers between geographic areas		77,383	6,414	13,168	25,495	5,478	8,414	10,364	(146,716	)	—
Total revenues	$	857,381	103,477	2,150,488	518,644	55,366	67,314	182,635	(146,716	)	3,788,589
Net revenues	$	431,702	47,476	305,960	177,560	29,559	31,698	49,565	—		1,073,520
Operating income	$	96,986	9,642	147,244	35,066	8,298	6,450	12,098	—		315,784
Identifiable assets at quarter end	$	908,430	77,717	494,081	449,433	36,591	41,328	97,700	(71	)	2,105,209
Capital expenditures	$	21,045	1,316	38,419	5,621	1,139	957	2,336	—		70,833
Depreciation and amortization	$	15,857	997	3,763	5,903	667	1,201	1,152	—		29,540
Equity	$	1,330,031	36,581	375,287	150,828	23,384	21,307	44,117	(794,202	)	1,187,333

4-November-2008 Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. Page 6 of 6