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                                                                   Exhibit 99(a)



                              September 6, 1994




BY HAND AND BY REGISTERED MAIL
(RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED)

Mr. Herbert H. Haft
Dart Group Corporation
3300 75th Avenue
Landover, Maryland 20785


Dear Mr. Haft:

     Pursuant to Article 4(a) of my Employment Agreement with Dart Group
Corporation ("Dart"), I hereby exercise, effective immediately, in whole, the
options to purchase 197,048 shares of Class B common stock of Dart.

     Pursuant to Article 4(b) of my Employment Agreement with Dart, I hereby
exercise my right, effective immediately, to obtain a loan from Dart for the
exercise price of the options to purchase the 197,048 shares of Class B common
stock of Dart. Enclosed is a check for $197,048, representing the par value of
the stock, and an executed term note for $17,665,353.20, representing the full
exercise price of the stock. The form of the note is the same as that used most
recently by Dart in connection with the exercise of options.

     I demand delivery of the shares and the appropriate recording of this
transaction on Dart's books and records, including in Dart's stock ledger, by
the close of business today, September 6, 1994.

                              Very truly yours,

                              /s/ Ronald S. Haft
                              ------------------
                              Ronald S. Haft

Enclosures: check for $197,048
            term note for $17,665,353.20

cc (without enclosures):
     Mr. Elliot Arditti
     Mr. Ronald Marshall