Closer scrutiny of Turner’s expenses bill reveals that, since June 2010, he has travelled to America, Germany, Switzerland, Japan and China, spending more than £4,500 per month, reported the Daily Telegraph.
An unnamed source told the newspaper the chairman needed to travel outside economy class to allow him to rest and read confidential papers.
In most instances, FSA executives are banned from travelling in anything but economy class, but it has made an exemption for Turner, who is also the government’s chief climate change adviser.
The FSA chief executive Hector Sants, by comparison, amassed an international travel bill of £12,000 over the same period, according to the Telegraph.
FSA rules state first-class travel is permitted for its staff, but only in “exceptional circumstances”.