DoorDash announced last week that it has received Part 135 air carrier certification from the FAA and is launching DoorDash Air, a drone delivery program developed by its in-house robotics unit, DoorDash Labs.

The certification authorizes DoorDash to operate its own drones as an air carrier, expanding on the drone delivery partnerships the company already runs. DoorDash becomes the eighth drone operator to receive the FAA's package delivery certification, according to the agency's list of approved operators.

Part 135 certification requires operators to pass a five-stage evaluation covering aircraft airworthiness, maintenance programs and safety procedures.

"We want drone delivery to work for any merchant, anywhere," said Harrison Shih, head of DoorDash Air, in the company's announcement. He said the goal is to build the full stack, from ground infrastructure to the aircraft to the handoff systems connecting them.

DoorDash said its drone is designed and built domestically, with most components sourced in the United States. The company positions the aircraft as complementary with the short and long-range drones used by its existing delivery partners.

According to DoorDash, drone deliveries averaged 25 minutes in 2025. The company also cited internal pilot data showing order volume grew by roughly 30 percent at some participating locations, with the increase holding for nine weeks after launch.

DoorDash said drones are intended to take on mid-range deliveries, those between three and five miles, which the company said took nearly 25 percent longer than shorter trips in 2025 because of the added time needed to match orders with available drivers. Shifting those deliveries to drones is meant to free up drivers for shorter, faster-turnaround orders.

The company said DoorDash Air will run on its existing delivery network and connect through its Autonomous Delivery Platform, the system it uses to match orders with drivers, its ground robot Dot, and third-party autonomous delivery partners.

DoorDash said it will share additional details on the aircraft and how the drone program fits into its broader delivery network later this year.