 The combined losses for Air India and Indian Airlines in 2006 – 07 were ₹ 7.7 billion (US $ 110 million) and after the merger, it went up to ₹ 72 billion (US $ 1.1 billion) by March 2009. In July 2009, State Bank of India was appointed to prepare a road map for the recovery of the airline. The carrier sold three Airbus A300 and one Boeing 747 – 300M in March 2009 for $ 18.75 million to finance the debt. By March 2011, Air India had accumulated a debt of ₹ 425.7 billion (US $ 6.3 billion) and an operating loss of ₹ 220 billion (US $ 3.3 billion), and was seeking ₹ 429.2 billion (US $ 6.4 billion) from the government. A report by the Comptroller and Auditor General blamed the decision to buy 111 new planes and the ill-timed merger with Indian Airlines for the poor financial situation. In August 2011, the invitation to join Star Alliance was suspended as a result of its failure to meet the minimum standards for the membership. The government pumped ₹ 32 billion (US $ 480 million) into Air India in March 2012.
