DoorDash has launched a new drone delivery business, DoorDash Air, after securing a Part 135 air carrier certification from the United States Federal Aviation Administration, allowing the company to legally operate a commercial drone delivery service in the U.S.

The new unit, developed by DoorDash’s robotics and autonomy team, will eventually be integrated into the company’s delivery app and use custom-built drones for food and grocery deliveries.

The company did not provide a timeline for commercial deployment of its aircraft but said initial operations are expected to begin through limited pilot programs involving short-distance flights that remain within the operator’s line of sight.

To expand autonomous operations over longer distances, DoorDash will need additional FAA approval for Beyond Visual Line of Sight technology, a certification already granted to companies including Amazon, Wing and Zipline.

DoorDash said the launch of DoorDash Air will not affect its existing drone delivery partnerships with Wing and Flytrex.

The company began working with Alphabet’s Wing in Australia in 2022 before expanding the partnership to selected U.S. cities, including Dallas-Fort Worth, in 2024.

DoorDash Air was developed within DoorDash Labs, the company’s research and development division, which also created its autonomous sidewalk delivery robot, Dot.

The robot is currently operating in parts of Arizona and California as DoorDash expands its investment in autonomous delivery technologies.