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DoorDash has announced the launch of its in-house drone delivery program, DoorDash Air, to handle orders within a three to five mile range. The company received certification from the Federal Aviation Administration to operate commercial drone deliveries in the U.S., making it one of just eight drone operators with the certification.
The launch of DoorDash Air aims to speed up mid-range deliveries, which accounted for more than 20 percent of its orders in 2025 and typically took longer to assign to delivery people known as Dashers. By shifting some of these trips to drones, the company hopes to free up drivers to handle shorter deliveries, while Dashers will continue completing most orders, especially those requiring extra flexibility.
DoorDash already offers drone delivery in select markets through partnerships with Wing and Flytrex. However, DoorDash Air will allow the company to build its own drones and infrastructure, as well as software needed to control the technology behind the service. According to Harrison Shih, Head of DoorDash Air, the company is building the full stack to make drone delivery possible for any merchant, anywhere.
The company will reveal when and where DoorDash Air deliveries will operate during its annual Dash Forward event in September. DoorDash’s drone will be developed by DoorDash Labs, the company’s robotics and automation division behind its autonomous sidewalk robot Dot. DoorDash Air will eventually become part of the company’s broader delivery network, with the company’s AI-powered Autonomous Delivery Platform deciding whether an order is delivered by a Dasher, robot, autonomous vehicle, or drone.
The launch of DoorDash Air comes as the company’s competitors continue expanding their drone delivery programs. Uber Eats, Grubhub, Walmart, and Amazon are all investing in drone delivery, with some already offering the service in select markets. As the use of drones in delivery continues to grow, it remains to be seen how DoorDash Air will impact the company’s operations and customer experience.
