DoorDash earns FAA approval to launch independent drone delivery service

DoorDash’s expanding drone network targets mid-range deliveries, a segment often overlooked by human Dashers. | Source: DoorDash

Drone deliveries are rapidly gaining altitude. DoorDash announced yesterday that it has obtained Part 135 air carrier certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This regulatory milestone marks the official launch of DoorDash Air, the company’s proprietary drone delivery initiative.

DoorDash has been heavily investing in automation over recent years, aiming to develop its delivery infrastructure internally. Last year, the company introduced Dot, its first autonomous delivery robot designed to navigate bike lanes, roads, sidewalks, and driveways for local deliveries.

With the FAA’s certification, DoorDash, headquartered in San Francisco, is now legally authorized to operate as an air carrier.

“Our goal is to make drone delivery accessible to every merchant, regardless of location,” stated Harrison Shih, head of DoorDash Air. “We are developing the complete stack, from ground infrastructure to the drones themselves and the handoff systems that ensure seamless integration.”

“Breakthroughs in hardware, computing power, and AI are unlocking new possibilities for local commerce. Becoming a certified air carrier accelerates our entire development roadmap,” he added.

DoorDash navigates the FAA’s stringent certification requirements

DoorDash highlighted that achieving FAA Part 135 certification involves a rigorous testing protocol with high safety standards. Operators must successfully complete a comprehensive five-stage evaluation to verify aircraft airworthiness, maintenance protocols, and safety procedures.

“This certification is the result of years of collaboration with the FAA,” a DoorDash spokesperson told The Robot Report. “The process entails a rigorous, multi-stage safety review that authorizes us to conduct commercial operations as a licensed air carrier.”

“We had to clear a five-stage federal process, including airworthiness testing, detailed flight operations and maintenance documentation reviewed by the FAA, an FAA-accepted safety management system, a hazardous materials program, and more,” the spokesperson explained. “We are proud to be among only eight drone operators in the United States to have successfully completed this process.”

Why DoorDash is developing its drone network internally

DoorDash currently partners with Wing for drone deliveries. However, the company is building its drone program within DoorDash Labs, its internal robotics and autonomy division.

“Our program rests on three pillars: first, our Autonomous Delivery Platform, which is the software layer that routes each order to the most efficient delivery mode—whether that’s a Dasher, Dot, drone, autonomous vehicle (AV), or sidewalk robot across our third-party partners,” the spokesperson explained. “We believe the best way to help local businesses scale with growing consumer demand is through a multimodal delivery network powered by more operators, not fewer.”

“Second, the ground infrastructure we are building for merchant handoff is designed to be interoperable across different drone providers,” DoorDash stated. “Our ambition is to develop a merchant handoff solution that supports the entire industry.”

“Third, this Part 135 certification allows us to operate, fly, and maintain our own drones,” the spokesperson added. “Together, these elements make drone delivery viable at scale for local commerce, not just for our own aircraft, but also for drones built by others.”

DoorDash stated it is designing its uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) to address gaps in local commerce. The company also plans to design and manufacture its drones in the U.S., utilizing primarily American-made components.

Delivery systems undergo testing in select regions

DoorDash has already tested its drone delivery service with pilot partners. The company did not specify which cities were involved in these tests.

In 2025, DoorDash estimated that its drones completed deliveries in an average of just 25 minutes. In fact, some locations participating in drone partner pilots saw DoorDash order volume increase by approximately 30%, with the lift sustained for nine weeks following the pilot launch.

The company stated it hopes drones can fill gaps in its broader delivery network. More than 20% of orders on the DoorDash platform in 2025 traveled between three and five miles. These orders took nearly 25% longer on average than shorter deliveries, largely because finding the right ground-based Dasher is more challenging for mid-range trips, the company noted.

Routing mid-range deliveries to drones allows Dashers to focus on shorter deliveries that can be completed quickly. This enables Dashers to remain near high concentrations of merchants for optimal routing efficiency.

DoorDash did not disclose specific rollout locations or timelines for DoorDash Air. However, the company announced it plans to share more details at its Dash Forward event this September.