DoorDash is launching its own drone delivery service, turning the company into a competitor to some of the same drone operators it already counts as partners.
DoorDash said Wednesday that it had received a Part 135 air carrier certification from the Federal Aviation Administration, allowing it to operate its own commercial drone-delivery service. The company said it’s the eighth drone operator in the US to receive the certification.
The service, called DoorDash Air, is expected to start commercial deliveries in fall 2026, a company spokesperson said.
“We’re building the full stack to make that possible from the ground infrastructure to the drone itself, and the handoff systems that make it work together seamlessly,” Harrison Shih, head of DoorDash Air, said in a statement.
DoorDash is developing the aircraft through DoorDash Labs, the same in-house robotics team behind Dot, its ground-delivery robot. The company said it’s also building the routing, safety, maintenance, and merchant-handoff systems needed to operate the service.
DoorDash isn’t new to drone delivery. The company has offered drone deliveries through partners, including Alphabet’s Wing and Flytrex. DoorDash said it has completed “tens of thousands” of drone deliveries through its partnerships.
A DoorDash spokesperson said its Wing and Flytrex partnerships remain active and that the company recently expanded its work with Wing. DoorDash expanded its Wing partnership to metro Atlanta in April.
DoorDash Air will nevertheless enable the company to operate its own aircraft on the same delivery network as its partners. The spokesperson said DoorDash wants “more operators, not fewer” and described its drones as an additional option that would strengthen the network.
The company did not directly answer whether its drones could eventually replace partner-operated routes.
“We are excited to continue working with our drone partners,” the spokesperson said. “DoorDash Air adds another delivery mode, and having multiple drone options to build resilience and grow the overall opportunity for local businesses, not split it.”
DoorDash said its Autonomous Delivery Platform will act as the dispatcher, choosing among drivers, drones, Dot, and other delivery options based on factors like speed, cost, location, and experience.
The spokesperson said DoorDash Air could reduce delays for orders traveling 3 to 5 miles. DoorDash said those orders take nearly 25% longer than shorter trips because of the time needed to find the right Dasher and cover the additional distance.
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