DoorDash Receives FAA Part 135 Certification, Becomes Eighth Drone Operator, Launches DoorDash Air

DoorDash has received Part 135 air carrier certification from the U. S. Federal Aviation Administration, becoming the eighth drone operator to obtain the authorization, which permits commercial airlines to transport property for compensation. The San Francisco-based delivery company announced the certification on July 29 and said it will use the designation to build a commercial drone delivery network across the United States through its newly formed internal business unit, DoorDash Air. Before approval, the FAA conducted a five-stage review covering the company's aircraft, maintenance procedures, and safety programs. DoorDash said its drones will be designed and manufactured in the United States, with most components sourced domestically, in line with a broader push to reduce U. critical infrastructure dependence on Chinese technology. DoorDash said the drones address practical delivery inefficiencies. In 2025, more than 20% of its orders required delivery distances of 3 to 5 miles, and these orders took about 25% longer to deliver than short-distance orders, largely because couriers tend to cluster around busy restaurants for short trips rather than accept longer routes. DoorDash estimates that deliveries completed by its existing drone operators average about 25 minutes, and in some areas order volumes have risen by about 30%. These figures are provided by the company and have not been independently verified. Human couriers will continue to handle the vast majority of orders because drones cannot climb stairs or transport large catering orders, DoorDash said. Its automated delivery platform will assign each order to a courier, a delivery robot, or a drone based on the specific requirements of the order.