DoorDash has launched an in-house drone delivery programme after receiving Part 135 air carrier certification from the US Federal Aviation Administration. Called DoorDash Air, the programme includes aircraft designed and assembled by the company’s robotics division.
The certification allows DoorDash to transport customers’ packages commercially by drone. It does not automatically approve unrestricted autonomous flights, and the company has not disclosed where its first operations will begin.
DoorDash Is Building Its Own Aircraft
DoorDash Air is being developed by DoorDash Labs, the research and engineering group behind the company’s Dot autonomous delivery vehicle. DoorDash said its drone is being designed specifically for local commerce, with most components produced in the United States.
The company is also building the infrastructure required to move orders between restaurants and aircraft. This includes merchant handoff systems, loading equipment, flight planning, maintenance tools and software for coordinating airspace and delivery locations.
DoorDash has not provided specifications for the aircraft or a detailed deployment schedule. A company spokesperson said commercial deliveries could begin in autumn 2026, while broader markets will be announced later.
FAA Approval Is One Step in the Process
The FAA requires companies carrying packages for payment by drone to obtain Part 135 certification. Operators conducting longer flights beyond the pilot’s visual line of sight also require additional exemptions, waivers and operating approvals.
DoorDash may therefore begin with limited routes while it seeks approval for more autonomous operations. Companies including Wing, Zipline and Amazon have already received authorisation for selected beyond-visual-line-of-sight services.
DoorDash said more than 20% of its deliveries cover distances between three and five miles. Those orders take nearly 25% longer than shorter trips, partly because it can take longer to find a suitable driver.
Existing Drone Partnerships Will Continue
DoorDash said DoorDash Air will operate alongside its existing partnerships rather than immediately replace them. The company has worked with Alphabet’s Wing since 2022 and expanded that partnership from Australia into several US markets.
It also offers Flytrex drone deliveries in parts of the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Customers in eligible locations can select drone delivery directly through the DoorDash app.
DoorDash’s Autonomous Delivery Platform will decide whether an order should be assigned to a human driver, Dot, a partner-operated drone or a DoorDash Air aircraft. The software evaluates factors including distance, speed, cost, location and customer experience in real time.
Featured image credits: DoorDash
For more stories like it, click the +Follow button at the top of this page to follow us.