DoorDash wins FAA Part 135 certificate and targets commercial drone delivery in fall 2026

DoorDash said on July 29 that it had secured a Federal Aviation Administration Part 135 air carrier certificate, making it the eighth company in the United States to hold the approval and clearing a key regulatory step for its in-house drone program, DoorDash Air. The company said the service is being designed for deliveries within 5 miles and a 25-minute fulfillment window, with commercial operations targeted for fall 2026 and eventual integration into the main DoorDash app. The drones and operating model, however, still need separate FAA review, testing, and validation before they can fly beyond visual line of sight. DoorDash also said it will keep working with Wing and Flytrex while building its own aircraft and ground infrastructure through DoorDash Labs. The economics remain a central challenge for the sector: Walmart’s former partner DroneUp previously reported a $30 cost per delivery against a $7 target, then shut 18 sites and exited Florida. DoorDash, for its part, said human couriers will still handle most orders, especially apartment climbs and larger deliveries.