When flying at higher altitudes, what component can pilots modify to compensate for reduced lift?

At higher altitudes, the density of the air decreases, which directly affects the lift generated by an aircraft's wings. To compensate for this reduction in lift, pilots can adjust the flaps and slats. Flaps increase the surface area of the wing and can change the airfoil shape to enhance lift at lower speeds, which is particularly useful during takeoff and landing phases. By deploying the flaps and slats, pilots help to maintain adequate lift even when the air density is less than at sea level.

While the other options may impact flight dynamics in various ways, such as reducing engine power or changing weight distribution, they do not directly address the immediate need to increase lift in the context of reduced air density at higher altitudes. Thus, modifying flaps and slats is the most effective and straightforward method for a pilot to increase lift to stabilize flight performance in those conditions.