LONDON—Two aircraft lessors are seizing the opportunity to grow their regional aircraft fleets, with Jetcraft Commercial acquiring 14 Bombardier CRJ1000s and Aergo Capital sealing a sale and leaseback on five De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400s.

UK-based Jetcraft is buying the 14 CRJ1000s from Air France regional airline HOP!, building on a December 2021 deal where Jetcraft agreed to acquire and place 10 ex-HOP! Embraer ERJ-145s.

The 14 CRJ1000s will be transitioned to Jetcraft between March and December 2022. The lessor said three of the aircraft are ready to be placed.

Jetcraft Commercial president Raphaël Haddad—who was with Bombardier for over 17 years before joining Jetcraft in 2015—described the deal as a “significant acquisition.” He added that demand for regional jets is currently strong.

Meanwhile, Dublin-based Aergo has acquired five Dash 8-400s from the leasing subsidiary of Canadian company Porter Aviation Holdings. The aircraft, with serial numbers 4130, 4134, 4138, 4140 and 4193, are operated by Porter Airlines out of Toronto. Porter is using the deal to strengthen its balance sheet and provide additional working capital to fund its post-pandemic recovery.

Aergo CEO Fred Browne mirrored Haddad’s comments, saying there are currently great opportunities in the regional and turboprop sector.