Pilot enables up to 20 flights per day on a 4 km aerial route, completely replacing a batch road model of 3 to 4 transfers daily
700+ flights, up to 40 samples per flight, zero failures, operating on demand across 54 consecutive days
Following the pilot, Airbound and Narayana Health plan an aerial corridor between Electronic City and Banashankari
The partners plan to expand aerial medical logistics routes across Bengaluru, with further expansion planned to the rest of the country, beginning with Kolkata
Bengaluru : Narayana Health, a leading healthcare service provider and Airbound, a Bengaluru-based aerial logistics company, have successfully completed a medical logistics pilot connecting Narayana Health’s Chandapura Clinic to its central laboratory at Narayana Health City in Electronic City by air, demonstrating how aerial logistics can dramatically improve the speed and reliability of diagnostic transport across urban healthcare networks.
Running since January 2026, the 4 km aerial route is completed in just 10 minutes, compared to significantly longer road transfers dependent on Bengaluru’s traffic conditions. Over the course of the pilot, the route completed more than 700 flights across 54 consecutive operational days, carrying up to 40 diagnostic samples per flight with zero failed deliveries, demonstrating the reliability of drone-based logistics in a live clinical environment.
Before the pilot, diagnostic samples from the Chandapura clinic were transported to the central laboratory in three to four road transfers per day, with arrival times varying depending on traffic conditions. The aerial route now operates on demand and on schedule with up to 20 flights per day, allowing laboratories to receive samples continuously rather than in fixed batches. Within three weeks of operations, Narayana Health removed the road transfer entirely, making the aerial route the sole transport link between the two facilities. This allows the laboratory to begin processing sooner, helping doctors receive results faster and improving diagnostic turnaround times for patients.
Commenting on the collaboration, Dr. Devi Prasad Shetty, Founder and Chairman, Narayana Health, said, “Driven by the conviction that technology is the primary catalyst for reducing healthcare costs, we are proud to announce the expansion of our medical drone delivery services. As lifelong proponents of technological integration, we have invested significantly over the past 25 years in building a robust digital platform designed to deliver safe, affordable, and accessible healthcare to all. Redefining Efficiency through centralization of essential services – such as clinical laboratories and blood banks – presents a massive opportunity to lower the cost of diagnostics and transfusions. Historically, however, the twin obstacles of transportation time and logistical expenses have hindered this transition.”
“By partnering with Airbound, a pioneer in drone technology, we are effectively removing these barriers. Following a highly successful pilot program connecting our clinic in Chandrapur with our hospital in Electronic City, we have seen firsthand the “amazing outcomes” that high-speed, low-cost aerial logistics can provide”, Dr Shetty added.
Phases by connecting more clinics and smaller private hospitals, including those outside the Narayana Health ecosystem, to the centralized laboratory at Narayana Health City. This will allow healthcare providers across the city to access advanced diagnostic services without needing to build full laboratory infrastructure at each facility.
Airbound’s aircraft use a blended-wing-body tailsitter design that combines vertical takeoff with the aerodynamic efficiency of fixed-wing flight, enabling lower cost-per-kilometre delivery compared to conventional ground transport while supporting frequent, repeatable operations across dense urban environments.
Following the success of the Bengaluru pilot, the partners plan to expand aerial medical logistics routes across Bengaluru in phases and eventually to other cities, including Kolkata being a key focus region for Narayana Health, while continuing to work with regulators as the network scales.