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DoorDash Gets FAA Nod to Run Its Own Drone Delivery Program
DoorDash has secured FAA certification to develop and operate its own drone delivery fleet through its in-house DoorDash Labs division.
What: The company received Part 135 air carrier certification, joining players like Amazon Prime Air and Alphabet’s Wing. DoorDash aims to build an end-to-end stack for midrange deliveries, claiming it will speed up order fulfillment where human drivers take 25% longer than short trips.
Why it matters: This transition to self-owned drone infrastructure suggests DoorDash is moving away from purely acting as a platform for third-party logistics to owning the hardware layer of delivery.
Decoder
- Part 135 Certification: A specific FAA operating certificate required for entities to function as an air carrier, essential for commercial drone delivery services in the US.
Original article
DoorDash has received permission from the FAA to deliver packages by drone at altitudes below 400 feet. The drones will be built in the company's in-house robotics unit, DoorDash Labs. DoorDash Air aims to cater to any merchant, anywhere. The company will release more information later this year on its drones and how its drone program will fit into DoorDash's broader ecosystem.
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