When Hong Kong architect David Leung flew to Barcelona last autumn for a conference, he did something unusual: he broke the journey in Istanbul for 36 hours. Istanbul Airport interior — modern terminal, natural light, passenger flow (Turkish Airlines) The network advantage Leung is not alone. Istanbul sits at the crossroads of Asia and Europe, a single, well-placed hub for long-haul travel between Hong Kong and the wider world. With a choice of morning and late-night departures from Hong Kong, travellers can reach Munich, Paris, London, Amsterdam, Zurich, and Athens with efficient connections — as well as destinations that are less commonly served from Hong Kong, such as Pristina, Sarajevo, Skopje, and Tbilisi. Business Class cabin — flatbed seat with dining service in progress (Turkish Airlines) What happens above the clouds For the city’s business community, this matters more than it might seem.