DoorDash has launched DoorDash Air, an in-house drone delivery system, after receiving Federal Aviation Administration certification to operate commercial drones in the United States. The company has already completed tens of thousands of drone deliveries in the Dallas-Fort Worth area through existing partnerships.
The San Francisco-based food delivery company said it is building its own aircraft and drone infrastructure at DoorDash Labs as part of the launch. The goal is to enable more seamless and scalable delivery across any merchant, anywhere.
‘We want drone delivery to work for any merchant, anywhere. 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,’ said Harrison Shih, Head of DoorDash Air.
DoorDash received FAA Part 135 certification, a rigorous process that included a five-stage evaluation verifying aircraft worthiness, maintenance programs, and safety procedures. The certification allows the company to operate as an air carrier and provide drone deliveries commercially.
The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex has been a key testing ground for DoorDash’s drone delivery ambitions. The company has been operating there through partnerships with Wing and Flytrex, and said it will continue those existing partnerships even as it builds its own drone infrastructure. DoorDash did not provide a timeline for when its proprietary drones would begin commercial operations.
For the Dallas-Fort Worth business community, the expansion of drone delivery represents a significant technological milestone. The region has become a hub for drone innovation, with companies citing the area’s spread-out geography and favorable weather conditions as ideal for testing aerial delivery.
DoorDash cited internal data showing that orders traveling between three and five miles took 25 percent longer than shorter deliveries, largely because it takes longer to find drivers for longer trips. By routing mid-range deliveries to drones, the company says drivers can maximize their earning potential by focusing on shorter deliveries in a more concentrated area.
‘Drone delivery offers a way for us to serve more customers and solve the hardest problems on the ground for local businesses,’ the company said in its announcement. The expansion of drone delivery could be particularly impactful for Dallas-area restaurants and retailers looking to expand their delivery radius without increasing costs.
The move into in-house drone technology also positions DoorDash against competitors like Amazon and Walmart, both of which have been investing heavily in aerial delivery. With the FAA certification in hand, DoorDash becomes the first major food delivery platform to operate its own drone fleet.
