Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. (0293.HK) Chief Executive Tony Tyler on Tuesday called on the airline's suppliers to lower prices of essential parts and components as the airline industry struggles in one of its worst ever downturns.

Tyler criticized the airline's main suppliers of airframes, engines, parts and interiors for keeping prices high and "making good profits even in these dark recessionary days."

"I am always astonished when I hear how much what you sell us costs," Tyler said in a speech at the Asian Aerospace forum, attended by aviation industry executives.

"Big things, small things, seats, engines, parts of all kinds - how can they be so expensive?"

For example, he said the cost for a premium class seat and its furniture costs more than a top-quality sports car.

He said it was time the supply market "lifted its game," and involve more risk sharing and alignment of interests between the buyers and sellers.

Cathay Pacific has ordered aircraft from both Boeing Co. (BA) and Airbus. The majority of its planes use engines made by Rolls-Royce Group PLC (RR.LN), though some of its newest long-haul aircraft use General Electric Co. (GE) engines.

-By Jeffrey Ng, Dow Jones Newswires; 852-2802-7002; jeffrey.ng@dowjones.com