Can’t tell you about Virgin, but there are regular flights to America which I occasionally use. Another decent area is Higher Broughton which is in Salford and is a predominately Jewish area and quite good.
Avoid Moss Side, Chorlton-on-Medlock, Longsight, Openshaw, Cheetham Hill … the list is almost endless; although on the perimeter of Trafford Bar, which is in Trafford, there is a very nice estate of semi-detatched and detached houses. There are also some very nice areas in Altrincham — but traffic from there into Manchester is horrendous. Similarly, nice areas in Stockport, especially at Bramhall, Cheadle, Cheadle Hulme, Hazel Grove and Romiley, but again rush hour traffic is horrendous. Lovely houses though!
And finally yes, people are generally more friendly and down-to-earth than Londoners. And a P.S. Property is very expensive in the city centre but most of it is either new, or constructed within old, refurbished cotton mills. Lovely, but very, very, very expensive. And I almost forgot Salford Quays, which fronts the transformed Manchester Ship Canal. Not cheap, but a good environment.
Best of luck, and welcome to Manchester when you finally arrive.
