Pulmonary agglomeration. Factory parts. How flight reductions could slow the delivery of vital supplies to LAX

One lung is harvested only for organ transplantation. A part is in dire need of restarting the assembly line. The hottest game for Christmas.

They are among the types of goods transported by the country’s complex air cargo system that could be significantly delayed after the Federal Aviation Administration’s decision to reduce flight capacity at 40 major airports, according to logistics experts.

A 10% reduction in flight capacity announced Thursday at Los Angeles International Airport and other hubs due to a shortage of air traffic controllers caused by the government shutdown had already delayed more than 3,500 flights on U.S. soil and canceled another 950 as of Friday afternoon, according to FlightAware.com.

Transport Secretary Sean Duffy warned on Friday that a 20% reduction in flights was possible if the shutdown continued.

“We’re at a pivot point where some things will be delayed and some things won’t,” said Vincent Iacopella, an executive at Alba Wheels Up, a logistics company that serves LAX. “A higher percentage would be harmful, but it’s also a matter of the length of the disturbance.”

Air cargo systems typically carry time-sensitive and high-value cargo such as pharmaceuticals, medical devices and technical components where speed is a priority over cost.

It’s also a busy season for retailers trying to get their hands on holiday goods that move fast or weren’t ready for ocean shipping months ago.

“Getting to market what influencers have suddenly decided is this year’s must-have Christmas gift will now be more challenging,” said business economist Jack O’Connell.

The system includes not only major carriers such as UPS, DHL and FedEx but also smaller competitors and dedicated carriers operated by commercial airlines. Also playing a key role in same-day delivery is the cargo hold of passenger flights operated by commercial airlines.

“Shippers use airlines, because airlines have flights in the air all day long. It’s treated as baggage,” Brandon Freed said. “This is the highest priority.”

Among the items Fred said were transported in cargo holds were harvested lungs that needed to be delivered to the operating table, heat-sensitive and radiological drugs and parts needed for assembly lines. Any cancellation or flight delay will immediately affect such delivery.

“This is just the beginning. If it continues for a few days, you will see a significant impact on the air cargo supply chain,” he said.

Less affected, he said, would be air cargo companies like UPS that have their own planes and can fly outside the FAA’s overnight flight restrictions, which last from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

In a statement, FedEx said it has emergency plans in place to move “time-sensitive” and “critical shipments” such as life-saving drugs and medical equipment.

LAX is one of the five largest cargo airports in the country and a major destination for shipments from China, Taiwan and other Pacific Rim countries.

David Gibson, Los Angeles Air Cargo Assn. So far, the FAA order has not hindered international flights to the United States as airlines adjust their operations domestically, the chairman said.

He said most flight cancellations can be handled by long-haul trucks, but that could change if the FAA restricts more flights.

“If it goes beyond that, it could be really ugly, but I don’t think it will,” he said. “Maybe I’m just hopeful.”