London City Airport has been given permission to ramp up passenger numbers by 40% after ministers overruled Newham Council, which had objected to the plan.

The council previously rejected the airport’s proposal to increase its capacity by introducing more weekend and early morning flights over concerns that it would create more air and noise pollution that would impact nearby residents.

But both Angela Rayner, secretary of state for housing, communities and local government, and transport secretary Louise Haigh overrode the council and approved an increase in capacity from 6.5 million to 9 million passengers a year.

Nevertheless, proposals to extend operating hours on Saturday afternoon were rejected – the airport currently closes at 12.30pm on Saturdays, but it had petitioned to extend this to 6.30pm.

London City’s planning application included no increase in the permitted number of annual flights or infrastructure. In a bid to improve its chances of being accepted, it also included a...