DoorDash Secures FAA Part 135 Certification to Launch Its Own Drone Delivery Service

DoorDash has obtained FAA Part 135 air carrier certification, clearing a key regulatory hurdle for its planned in-house drone delivery operation, DoorDash Air.

DoorDash revealed that it earned FAA Part 135 certification, joining a short list of drone operators authorized to run commercial air-carrier services in the United States. The certification, announced on July 29, 2026, validates the company’s aircraft, maintenance and safety procedures, but still requires separate airspace authorizations and possible waivers for beyond-visual-line-of-sight flights. DoorDash hopes drones will cut delivery times for orders that travel three to five miles, which currently delay customers by about 25 percent.

Its autonomous delivery platform will decide whether a small, four-mile order is better suited for a drone or a human Dasher, keeping the majority of deliveries in the hands of drivers. The drones will be built by DoorDash’s robotics group, the same team behind the Dot delivery robot, with most components sourced in the United States. No specific markets, rollout timeline, or pricing details have been released, and the service will likely start in suburban zones where drop-off points are clear and noise concerns are minimal.