TCI Partners with FLYING WHALES to Introduce 60-Ton Heavy-Lift Airship Logistics in India!
Transport Corporation of India Limited (TCI) has entered into a strategic collaboration with FLYING WHALES and its operational subsidiary FLYING WHALES SERVICES to introduce a new heavy-lift air logistics capability in India. At the centre of the partnership is the LCA60T, a rigid cargo airship capable of transporting up to 60 tonnes and loading or unloading while hovering in place.
The LCA60T was initially developed to enable sustainable timber transport in remote and environmentally sensitive areas. Its hover-loading capability allows operations without conventional runways or extensive ground infrastructure, making it particularly suited for inaccessible and terrain-challenged regions. By integrating this technology into India’s logistics ecosystem, the collaboration aims to decarbonize the movement of heavy and oversized cargo while opening up new infrastructure possibilities across the country.
TCI’s multimodal logistics network, comprising nearly 1,400 offices, hubs, yards and warehouses, will complement the airship’s capabilities. The combined platform is expected to support deliveries in remote and strategically important regions, serving sectors such as defence, renewable energy, power transmission, infrastructure, construction and emergency response.
FLYING WHALES is also advancing plans to establish its third global hub in Tamil Nadu under its “Three Pillars” strategy. This move would position India as a key production and operations centre for the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions. The partnership with TCI accelerates this vision by aligning advanced airship technology with an established domestic logistics backbone.
The collaboration is expected to enhance connectivity for strategic national projects, including high-voltage transmission lines in Ladakh, green energy corridors, Trans-Himalayan infrastructure initiatives and rapid-response disaster relief missions. The ability to transport 60-tonne cargo loads directly to remote sites without heavy ground preparation could significantly reduce project timelines and environmental disruption.
Vineet Agarwal, Managing Director of TCI, stated that the partnership strengthens the company’s ability to deliver low-carbon heavy-lift solutions to India’s most remote locations, supporting the country’s broader multi-modal connectivity and infrastructure goals. Sébastien Bougon, President of FLYING WHALES, emphasized that integrating the LCA60T with TCI’s network creates a reliable, efficient and sustainable pathway for transporting large cargo to challenging destinations.
TCI, a diversified logistics group with a valuation of approximately $1.5 billion, operates across road, rail, air, coastal shipping and warehousing networks, handling cargo equivalent to nearly 2 percent of India’s GDP. By combining advanced airship transport with its established logistics infrastructure, the company aims to redefine heavy-lift logistics and strengthen India’s connectivity in hard-to-reach regions.
