AEI ANNOUNCES JOINT VENTURE WITH CORMAR



December 18, 1997

For more information, please contact:
Jay Jacobson (203)655-6978


                 AIR EXPRESS INTERNATIONAL (AEI)
               ANNOUNCES JOINT VENTURE PARTNERSHIP
                    WITH CORMAR IN COSTA RICA


Darien, CT, December 18, 1997...Air Express International
Corporation ("AEI") (Nasdaq-NMS:AEIC) today announced that it has
an agreement in principle to make a significant minority investment
and establish a joint venture in Costa Rica through the acquisition
of approximately 37% of the stock in Corporacion Cormar ("Cormar"). 
Through its 100%-owned subsidiary, Groupo Cail, Cormar has been
AEI's long-time agent in Costa Rica.  The joint venture company
will be renamed "Cormar AEI," and Mr. Jose Rossi Umana will
continue to run the new enterprise as President.  The terms of the
transaction, which is expected to close by December 31, 1997, were
not disclosed.

Founded in 1966, Cormar has been AEI's agent in this Central
American country for over 10 years.  Cormar is the largest customs
house broker and airfreight forwarder in Costa Rica and, through
various subsidiaries and affiliates, operates in 10 locations and
employs approximately 500 persons.

Guenter Rohrmann, president and chief executive officer of AEI,
stated, "Our partnership with Cormar is a continuation of AEI's
ongoing strategy of expanding its network via equity participation
in its agent partners around the world.  The Costa Rican logistics
market is expanding rapidly as multi-national manufacturers look to
tap the country's resources and open new, or expand existing,
production facilities.  By bringing Cormar more directly into the
AEI family and seamlessly integrating their systems and processes
into AEI, we will be able to provide even better services to our 
customers in this important and developing market."

President and CEO of Cormar, Jose Rossi, added, "We are excited
about our partnership with AEI, which will provide Cormar greater
access to AEI's worldwide network.  Our local knowledge and
expertise combined with AEI's worldwide resources will allow us to
strengthen our airfreight and customs brokerage activities and
expand logistics services to the Costa Rican market."

Rohrmann concluded, "We are enthusiastic about cementing our ties
to the Costa Rican market in this fashion.  We look to establish or
increase our equity stakes through similar transactions with other
AEI agents going forward."

This transaction is part of AEI's strategy to invest in its agents
throughout the world.  Costa Rica marks the sixth country (previous
investments are in Norway, Dubai, Finland, Spain and Korea) in the
past three years where AEI has acquired or increased its equity
stake in a long-time agent.

AEI is a leading worldwide provider of freight transportation and
related logistics services.  The Company offers fully integrated
international air and ocean freight forwarding, customs brokerage,
warehousing and distribution, and information services through its
global network of 875 locations in 135 countries.

This press release contains forward-looking statements.  Such
statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause
actual results to vary materially from those anticipated; among
these are the Company's dependence upon conditions in the air and
ocean freight forwarding industry, the size and resources of many of
the Company's competitors and the need for the Company to continue
to effectively integrate acquired businesses and successfully
deliver its primary services.  Additional information with respect
to these and other factors which could materially affect the Company
is included in the Company's filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, including its most recent proxy statement and
10-K and its 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1997.

End