<PAGE>   1
                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                   FORM 10-Q/A

(Mark One)
[X]      QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
         EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED October 31, 1996
                                                             ----------------

[ ]      TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
         EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM            TO
                                                             ----------
         ----------------

Commission file number 0-1946
                       ------

                             DART GROUP CORPORATION
                     ---------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


           Delaware                                            53-0242973
-------------------------------                         -----------------------
 (State or other jurisdiction of                             (I.R.S. Employer
 incorporation or organization)                             Identification No.)

                   3300 75th Avenue, Landover, Maryland, 20785
              ----------------------------------------------------
                    (Address of principal executive offices)
                                   (Zip Code)

                                 (301) 731-1200
              ----------------------------------------------------
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

              ----------------------------------------------------
              (Former name, former address and former fiscal year,
                          if changed since last report)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to
such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes   x     No
    -----      -----

At December 13, 1996, the registrant had 1,760,063 shares outstanding of Class A
Common Stock, $1.00 par value per share, and 327,270 shares outstanding of Class
B Common Stock, $1.00 par value per share. The Class B Stock is the only voting
stock and is not publicly traded.

                                Page 1 of 4 pages

<PAGE>   2


This Form 10-Q/A amends the registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (the
"Form 10-Q") for the quarterly period ended October 31, 1996, which was filed on
December 16, 1996.

The signature page of the Form 10-Q is hereby amended and restated as follows:




                               Page 2 of 4 pages


<PAGE>   3

                                   Signatures


         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


                                           DART GROUP CORPORATION





Date December 16, 1996                        By        Herbert H. Haft
     ---------------------                      -----------------------------
                                                        HERBERT H. HAFT*
                                                     Chief Executive Officer



Date December 16, 1996                        By         Mark A. Flint
     ---------------------                      -----------------------------
                                                         MARK A. FLINT
                                                     Chief Financial Officer



*        Herbert Haft does not, by his signature as an executive on this
         official document, endorse any position taken herein or in prior SEC
         filings which are inconsistent with positions he has taken in
         litigation against the Company.


                                Page 3 of 4 pages

<PAGE>   4

                                   Signatures


         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


                                           DART GROUP CORPORATION





Date December 27, 1996                        By        Herbert H. Haft
     ---------------------                      -----------------------------
                                                        HERBERT H. HAFT*
                                                     Chief Executive Officer



Date December 27, 1996                        By         Mark A. Flint
     ---------------------                      -----------------------------
                                                         MARK A. FLINT
                                                     Chief Financial Officer



*        Herbert Haft does not, by his signature as an executive on this
         official document, endorse any position taken herein or in prior SEC
         filings which are inconsistent with positions he has taken in
         litigation against the Company.


                                Page 4 of 4 pages