In yet another example that Texas is definitely the Drone Star State, there’s yet another major delivery service coming. DoorDash today announced that it has officially launched its latest drone delivery service in Texas — this time in partnership with Flytrex.
Fights are now underway in Frisco and Little Elm, which are part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. With these deal, customers who live in eligible areas can now use the DoorDash app to order from local favorites like Papa John’s and The Brass Tap. With that, they can opt to have their meals delivered by drone.
But while this launch of Flytrex-powered DoorDash deliveries is new, the concept isn’t. DoorDash has been steadily morphing into one of the most aggressive players in drone meal delivery, having already partnered with Wing (Google’s drone delivery arm) in cities like Frisco, Texas, and Christiansburg, Virginia. In fact, DoorDash and Wing just expanded to Charlotte, North Carolina this spring.
So what makes the Flytrex partnership in Texas worth watching? The answer lies not just in flying tacos, but in BVLOS flights, proprietary airspace coordination software, and the promise of scaled autonomy.
From pilot phase to prepared meals: What’s new in DFW
During the early pilot, DoorDash customers in Little Elm and Frisco could select drone delivery through a special interface on the app. Now, as the service officially launches, customers who live within a 2.76-mile radius of the Flytrex station can qualify for drone delivery if their address falls within a designated drone delivery zone.
Here’s how it works:
- If your address qualifies, drone-enabled restaurants will appear via homepage banners, a “drone” filter, or a dedicated drone carousel.
- Select your delivery zone and add qualifying items to your cart.
- Choose “Drone” at checkout, then wait for your lunch to fly through the air and arrive.
Flytrex drones then fly autonomously to your address and lower the package by tether into your backyard or another designated delivery point. The system is contactless, low-latency, and designed for suburban convenience.
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What needs to happen to make scalable BVLOS delivery
While Flytrex already operates some drone sites under FAA Part 135 — the certification needed for scalable, commercial air carrier operations — this Texas site is currently flying under Part 107, a more limited framework.
But Flytrex confirmed that a transition to Part 135 is underway, calling it a “key next step” for scaling the DoorDash partnership. That transition matters because it opens the door for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) flights, larger coverage areas and more simultaneous drone deliveries. Official Part 135 authorization is what will unlock broader regional networks and multi-drone orchestration at scale.
How Flytrex manages its drone traffic
Flytrex isn’t just launching drones. It’s also building the digital infrastructure to manage them. The company uses its own proprietary UTM (Uncrewed Traffic Management) system to coordinate flights.
Flytrex and Wing are flying in overlapping zones in Frisco, with about 30% of Flytrex’s operational area shared with Wing. But even though the two companies are competitors, they work together. Just a couple months ago, the two announced a partnership that involves careful deconfliction built into both companies’ flight plans.
Flytrex and Wing drones autonomously talk to each other and communicate their flight plans. It’s the first time in U.S. history that multiple commercial drone companies have conducted daily operations in shared airspace, using a real-time Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) system to adjust routes.
UTM integration isn’t just a technical detail; it’s a key component of what makes multi-operator drone delivery viable in urban and suburban environments. As the number of drone providers grows, the ability to coexist without mid-air chaos will be essential.
Why DoorDash is using two different drone delivery companies
Flytrex, which rose to fame for its deliveries in Iceland, made its first deliveries in Texas back in 2022 when it partnered with restaurant company Brinker International (that’s the parent company of major chains including Chili’s Grill & Bar and Maggiano’s Little Italy) to deliver food in Granbury, Texas. But this marks the first time the company has formally partnered with DoorDash (though DoorDash has long worked with Wing).
The Frisco launch with Flytrex proves that DoorDash isn’t betting on one drone horse — they’re hedging smartly with multiple partners, including both Wing and Flytrex. In fact, DoorDash has now deployed drone delivery in at least four U.S. regions:
- Christiansburg, VA (with Wing)
- Frisco, TX (with both Wing and Flytrex)
- Charlotte, NC (with Wing)
- Little Elm, TX (with Flytrex)
Wing, which operates more as an air carrier, brings high-volume and longer-range capability. Flytrex, with its focus on mid-range, suburban-friendly tether drops, delivers convenience with a leaner operational footprint.
And for customers? It’s as simple as tapping “Drone” at checkout.
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