DoorDash Secures FAA Air Carrier Certification to Launch Drone Delivery Service

DoorDash has obtained Part 135 air carrier certification from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, becoming the eighth company authorized to operate drones as an air carrier. The certification enables the launch of DoorDash Air, a drone delivery platform aimed at faster, more efficient local commerce. DoorDash says pilot deliveries average 25 minutes and have boosted order volumes by about 30% in test markets.

Separately, the FAA has released a draft of Part 108, a new rule governing Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone operations. The proposal shifts regulatory responsibility from individual pilots to operating companies, introducing a tiered system of permits and certificates based on population density and flight volume. The rule is expected to pave the way for broader commercial drone delivery services, including food and grocery orders, by standardising safety and oversight requirements.