Six Shenzhen residents would probably purchase private jets this year, said Frank Caruso, vice president of aviation consulting firm Aviatrade Asia, after its Shenzhen office opened Tuesday.

Caruso, however, did not disclose the names of the prospective plane buyers. "But I can tell you they are very rich Chinese businessmen. The number of private airplanes in Shenzhen was zero last year, but now at least six people were consulting and probably would finish the purchase this year," he said.

The demand for private jets is rising in Asia, and especially in China. Gulfstream Aerospace, an American airplane producer that sold 16 private airplanes in Asia last year, predicted more sales in the continent this year, with China being one of the more prominent markets.

Philip Rushton, a former fighter pilot and president of Aviatrade Asia, said that as China is a large country with a fast-growing economy, "Chinese business people will be able to afford private airplanes and understand the need to have one of them."

Caruso said China would see an annual demand for about 20 private jets each year, with at least 200 people possessing the money and necessity to buy them.

But the company also admitted the challenges the owners of these private jets would face. They would have to obtain permission from the government to use the airports, a place to park the jets and skilled crew to manage and take care of the jets.

"The biggest barrier for the rich Chinese businessmen to have a private airplane is the infrastructure rather than the money," Rushton said.

Editor: Yan