Qantas' decision to target the Geraldton to Perth flight route for cutbacks has been criticised by the Midwest Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The airline announced last week it would cut a number of flights in regional WA over the next month to manage the impact of COVID-19 on staffing levels and reduce the number of last-minute cancellations. 

Fifteen of those flights are between Geraldton and Perth.

A Qantas spokeswoman said a figure of 19 planned cancellations was incorrect but did not respond to a request for the total number of planned cancellations in regional WA.

Midwest Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Joanne Fabling said Geraldton was shouldering much of the burden from the decision.

"Geraldton unfortunately being a 45-50-minute flight is probably not the most profitable of Qantas' flights," she said.

"That's where our concerns are because the loyalty that Qantas has in the regions is strong and we'd like to continue that.

Ms Fabling said the reduced schedule would affect local traders and that the bulk of local air travel was for business.

"A lot of our flights because they leave Perth early in the morning are good for Perth people to come up and do business in Geraldton," she said.

"For Geraldton businesses, a lot of them will travel in the afternoon and come back the next day.

She said there was a lot of business travel, fly-in, fly-out travel and leisure travel.

However, she said she was aware the airline had more impacts from the pandemic than current isolation requirements.

"They were running a fairly lean staffing as they powered up to come back online to 100 per cent staff for flights in the regions," she said.

"We also need to be mindful that this airline was grounded for a long time ... they're bringing on a new workforce.

"At the end of the day, we want to fly safely."

A Qantas spokeswoman said the company was doing the pre-emptive cancellations to help manage ongoing COVID-related absences.

"We apologise to our customers for the inconvenience," the spokeswoman said.

"We thank for Geraldton community for their understanding."