RALEIGH — Legislation to wrest control of Charlotte Douglas International Airport away from North Carolina's largest city has now cleared one chamber of the General Assembly.

The Senate gave final approval Wednesday to legislation that would shift the power to run the nation's eighth-busiest airport to a regional authority including people from counties surrounding Charlotte and appointments made by the governor and legislative leaders.

Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx and the city council oppose the move and urged legislators to have the idea studied.

New Gov. Pat McCrory is a former Charlotte mayor but wouldn't have the chance to sign or veto the bill because it's considered a local issue. He's asked fellow Republicans to slow down the process. Some in the House — the bill's next stop — have echoed that thought.