On the occasion of the official summit between the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, FLYING WHALES SERVICES (FWS), an operating subsidiary of FLYING WHALES, and Transport Corporation of India Limited (TCI), India’s leading integrated logistics and supply chain solutions provider, announced a strategic collaboration to strengthen integrated logistics solutions in India. The MoU was signed in the presence of Mr. Vineet Agarwal, Managing Director, and Mr. Rajkiran Kanagala, Chief Business Officer, TCI, along with Mr. Sébastien Bougon, President of FLYING WHALES and President of FLYING WHALES SERVICES, the Group’s operating subsidiary.
FLYING WHALES is a French-Canadian company developing the LCA60T – a rigid airship designed for heavy-load transport with a carrying capacity of 60 tonnes. Originally conceived to support the exploitation of renewable wood resources in hard-to-reach areas, the LCA60T’s hover loading and unloading capabilities offer solutions to logistical and landlocked challenges worldwide, with a very small environmental footprint.
The solution enables point-to-point transport of heavy and bulky loads at lower cost while reducing dependence on ground infrastructure. FLYING WHALES is also developing FLYING WHALES SERVICES as the operating company for the LCA60T fleet.
To deploy its sustainable heavy-lift air cargo solution across the Middle East and Asia-Pacific, FLYING WHALES is advancing discussions to establish its third global hub in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. Under its “Three Pillars” strategy, India would host FLYING WHALES’ production and operational activities for these regions, positioning the country at the centre of the LCA60T’s industrial and commercial rollout. The strategic collaboration with TCI is expected to accelerate this ambition in the Indian market.
Commenting on the collaboration, Mr. Vineet Agarwal, Managing Director, TCI, said: “TCI has consistently partnered with leading global and domestic organisations to provide state-of-the-art logistics solutions for our customers. FLYING WHALES’ innovative technology will provide low-carbon, efficient solutions to the remotest locations, thus supporting the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan for multi-modal connectivity.”
Mr. Sébastien Bougon, President of FLYING WHALES, added: “Marking our first strategic partnership in India, this collaboration with TCI is a pivotal step in FLYING WHALES’ international expansion. By combining our LCA60T technology – the world’s only solution for heavy-lift transport without ground infrastructure – with TCI’s logistical expertise, we are addressing India’s connectivity and ecological transition challenges. Together, we are making the impossible possible by delivering up to 60 tonnes of strategic equipment to the country’s most remote areas with a minimal environmental footprint.”