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Fair Value Measurements, Investments and Notes Receivable
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2022
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]  
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS, INVESTMENTS AND NOTES RECEIVABLE FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS, INVESTMENTS AND NOTES RECEIVABLEFair Value Information. Accounting standards require us to use valuation techniques to measure fair value that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. These inputs are described in Note 7 of this report. The table below presents disclosures about the fair value of financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis in the Company's financial statements as of December 31 (in millions):
20222021
TotalLevel 1Level 2Level 3TotalLevel 1Level 2Level 3
Cash and cash equivalents$7,166 $7,166 $— $— $18,283 $18,283 $— $— 
Restricted cash - current (Note 1)45 45 — — 37 37 — — 
Restricted cash - non-current (Note 1)210 210 — — 213 213 — — 
Short-term investments:
U.S. government and agency notes8,914 — 8,914 — — — 
Asset-backed securities325 — 325 — 26 — 26  
Corporate debt— — 95 — 95 — 
Long-term investments:
Equity securities189 189 — — 229 229 — — 
Investments presented in the table above have the same fair value as their carrying value.
Short-term investmentsThe short-term investments shown in the table above are classified as available-for-sale and have remaining maturities of approximately one year or less.
Long Term Investments: Equity securities — Represents equity and equity-linked securities (such as vested warrants) in Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras S.A., Clear Secure, Inc., Archer Aviation Inc. and Eve Holding, Inc.
Other fair value information - The table below presents the carrying values and estimated fair values of financial instruments not presented in the tables above as of December 31 (in millions). Carrying amounts include any related discounts, premiums and issuance costs:
20222021
Carrying AmountFair ValueCarrying AmountFair Value
TotalLevel 1Level 2Level 3TotalLevel 1Level 2Level 3
Long-term debt$31,194 $29,371 $— $23,990 $5,381 $33,363 $34,550 $— $29,088 $5,462 
Fair value of the financial instruments included in the tables above was determined as follows:
DescriptionFair Value Methodology
Cash and cash equivalents and
Restricted cash (current and non-current)
The carrying amounts of these assets approximate fair value.
Short-term and Long-term investmentsFair value is based on (a) the trading prices of the investment or similar
instruments or (b) broker quotes obtained by third-party valuation services.
Long-term debt Fair values were based on either market prices or the discounted amount of future cash flows using our current incremental rate of borrowing for similar liabilities or assets.
Investments in Regional Carriers. United holds investments in three regional carriers that fly for the Company as United Express under its CPAs. The combined carrying value of the investments was approximately $188 million as of December 31, 2022. Each investment and United's ownership stake are listed below.
CommuteAir LLC. United owns a 40% minority ownership stake in CommuteAir LLC, which does business as CommuteAir. CommuteAir currently operates 63 regional aircraft under a CPA that has a term through 2026. We account for this investment using the equity method.
Republic Airways Holdings Inc. ("Republic Holdings"). United holds a 19% minority interest in Republic Holdings. Republic Holdings is the parent company of Republic Airways Inc. ("Republic"). Republic currently operates 66 regional aircraft under CPAs that have terms through 2036. We account for this investment using the equity method.
Mesa Air Group, Inc. ("Mesa Air Group"). In January 2023, United obtained a 10% minority interest in Mesa Air Group, the parent company of Mesa Airlines, Inc. ("Mesa"). Mesa currently operates 63 regional aircraft, with the opportunity to operate up to 80 regional aircraft, under a CPA that has a term through 2032.
Other Investments. United holds equity investments in a number of companies with emerging technologies and sustainable solutions. United also has equity investments in Avianca Group International Limited, a multinational airline holding company, and JetSuiteX, Inc., an independent air carrier doing business as JSX. None of these investments have readily determinable fair values. We account for these investments at cost less impairment, adjusted for observable price changes in orderly transactions for an identical or similar investment of the same issuer. As of December 31, 2022, the carrying value of these investments was $434 million.
Notes Receivable. The Company has $101 million of notes receivable, net of allowance for credit losses, the majority of which is from certain of its regional carriers. The loans are recorded in Investments in affiliates and other, less allowance for credit losses on the Company's consolidated balance sheet.