DoorDash Launches Drone Delivery
DoorDash Launches In-House Drone Delivery Service DoorDash Air After Gaining FAA Certification
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Key Points
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DoorDash's in-house drones will be designed and built in America by DoorDash Labs, with most components sourced domestically.
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Prior to launching its own service, DoorDash has already completed tens of thousands of drone deliveries through its partnerships with Wing and Flytrex, indicating an established operational baseline.
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Wing's partnership expansion to metro Atlanta occurred in April, illustrating ongoing growth of partner networks alongside DoorDash Air.
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DoorDash Air targets sub-25-minute deliveries for trips under five miles, signaling a measurable speed improvement on short-range routes.
DoorDash has earned FAA Part 135 air carrier certification and launched DoorDash Air, its own in-house drone delivery program, making it the eighth U.S. operator to hold such approval, according to Yahoo Finance. Commercial deliveries are planned to begin in fall 2026, starting with limited pilots where operators keep drones within direct line of sight.
The move puts DoorDash in direct competition with Amazon and Walmart in the drone delivery race, Dexerto reported. DoorDash will design and build its own aircraft through DoorDash Labs, with most components sourced domestically, while continuing its existing partnerships with Wing and Flytrex.
DoorDash Air Targets Sub-25-Minute Deliveries Under Five Miles
DoorDash Air is built for mid-range trips — roughly three to five miles — where human drivers often create bottlenecks, according to Digital Trends. The company says its drones can complete deliveries in under 25 minutes on those routes. That speed improvement is the core selling point over standard Dasher delivery.
DoorDash has already logged tens of thousands of drone deliveries through Wing and Flytrex before launching its own aircraft, Yahoo Finance noted. That gives the company an established operational baseline to build from. DoorDash Air adds a third option rather than replacing those partner networks.
DoorDash Labs Builds the Full Drone Stack In-House
DoorDash Labs — the same team behind the Dot sidewalk robot — is designing and manufacturing the drones, Digital Trends reported. The company is building the full stack: ground infrastructure, the aircraft itself, and handoff systems. Most components will be sourced from American suppliers.
DroneXL noted that a video released by DoorDash shows a drone larger than the company has officially described. Controlling its own hardware lets DoorDash tune every part of the delivery process. The goal is seamless operation on the same platform that already runs human Dashers and partner drones.
FAA Certification Opens the Door but Limits Range for Now
Part 135 certification means DoorDash can legally charge money for commercial drone deliveries, according to Yahoo Finance. But current approval only covers flights within an operator's direct line of sight. Longer autonomous routes — beyond visual line of sight, or BVLOS — require a separate FAA approval that DoorDash has not yet secured.
The company plans to grow incrementally. Fall 2026 is the target for first commercial flights, starting with narrow pilot deployments, Dexerto reported. DoorDash also expanded its Wing partnership to metro Atlanta in April, showing that partner growth continues in parallel with the in-house program.
Autonomous Delivery Platform Picks the Fastest Route in Real Time
DoorDash's Autonomous Delivery Platform will route each order in real time. It can choose among a human Dasher, the Dot sidewalk robot, a Wing or Flytrex drone, or a DoorDash Air aircraft. The decision is based on speed, cost, and distance, according to Digital Trends.
DoorDash frames DoorDash Air as an expansion of operator options, not a replacement for anyone. The company says adding its own aircraft to the mix means more orders can move faster, especially in areas where driver supply runs thin. The full rollout timeline depends on continued FAA approvals.
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