ALBA WHEELS UP INTERNATIONAL

One January 1, 1998 the Alba Forwarding Company and Wheels Up International Inc., became Alba-Wheels Up International Inc. The merger of these two companies combined knowledge and expertise with new technology and an aggressive service posture.

Based on our combined experiences and expertise, Alba Wheels Up International, Inc. can now offer the most professional, economical and varied services available to both the importing and export communities.

Alba Forwarding Co., Inc.

The Alba Forwarding Company was incorporated in 1949 as a privately owned Customhouse Broker and International Freight Forwarding firm. The first office was opened on Broadway in lower Manhattan and offered services to the rapidly expanding ports of New York.

As foreign trade in the New York metropolitan area grew, Alba Forwarding Co. grew as well. In 1961, Alba Forwarding moved to new and larger offices in Manhattan allowing them to increase their focus by providing services and information to both national and international accounts and in both the import and export markets.

Alba Forwarding Co.'s JFK International Airport office was opened in 1968 in response to the growing demand for services at the New York/New Jersey airports. In the mid 1970s a new computer system, linking the NYC office to JFK, allowed for consistent , expedited entry services across the ports of New York./New Jersey. For the first time, both sea and air importers experienced economical and uniform Customs' clearances across all their ports of entry.

As the U.S. Customs automation project developed (Automated commercial System/ACS), Alba Forwarding. elected to be part of the pilot programs. In 1986, Alba Forwarding Co., became one of the nation's first A.B.I. certified brokers.

Alba Forwarding Co.'s Miami office was opened in July 1990 and immediate;y began providing services to the southern air and seaports. As a full service broker attached to the same computer network utilized by our other offices, our Miami branch has allowed for an extension of the company's expertise into new markets.

Wheels Up International

Wheels Up International Inc., was incorporated in 1994 as a Customhouse Broker and International Freight Forwarder. The first Wheels Up office was opened at New York's JFK International Airport and immediately began offering expedited, pre-clearances of imported merchandise to selective, time sensitive industries utilizing air freight as their transportation of choice.

By the end of 1994, Wheels Up International was offering pre-clearance on all commodities not restricted by Federal Agencies (Customs, EPA, FDA, etc.) or subjected to quota restraints. "Wheels Up," refers to an aircraft that has left its origin city but has not yet arrived at its destination.

In response to the unprecedented demand for pre-clearance, Wheels Up International developed a technologically advanced, computerized system which linked foreign freight forwarders to their JFK office. By doing so, Wheels Up International was the first broker/forwarder to address the requirements of time critical importers.