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Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2023
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]  
FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
The table below presents disclosures about the financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis in UAL's financial statements (in millions):
March 31, 2023December 31, 2022
TotalLevel 1Level 2Level 3TotalLevel 1Level 2Level 3
Cash and cash equivalents$7,634 $7,634 $— $— $7,166 $7,166 $— $— 
Restricted cash - current173 173 — — 45 45 — — 
Restricted cash - non-current225 225 — — 210 210 — — 
Short-term investments:
U.S. government and agency notes9,061 — 9,061 — 8,914 — 8,914 — 
Asset-backed securities461 — 461 — 325 — 325 — 
Corporate debt— — — — — — 
Long-term investments:
Equity securities126 126 — — 189 189 — — 
Investments presented in the table above have the same fair value as their carrying value.
Restricted cash - current — Primarily includes amounts to be used for the payment of fees, principal and interest on senior secured notes and a secured term loan facility (the "MileagePlus Financing") secured by substantially all of the assets of Mileage Plus Holdings, LLC, a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of United.
Restricted cash - non-current — Primarily includes collateral associated with the MileagePlus Financing, collateral for letters of credit and collateral associated with facility leases and other insurance-related obligations.
Short-term investments — The short-term investments shown in the table above are classified as available-for-sale and have remaining maturities of approximately two years or less.
Long-term investments: Equity securities — Represents equity and equity-linked securities (such as vested warrants) that make up United's investments in Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras S.A., Archer Aviation Inc., Eve Holding, Inc., Mesa Air Group, Inc. and Clear Secure, 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 (in millions). Carrying amounts include any related discounts, premiums and issuance costs:
March 31, 2023December 31, 2022
Carrying AmountFair ValueCarrying AmountFair Value
TotalLevel 1Level 2Level 3TotalLevel 1Level 2Level 3
Long-term debt$30,666 $29,429 $— $23,812 $5,617 $31,194 $29,371 $— $23,990 $5,381 
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 debtFair 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.
Equity Method Investments. As of March 31, 2023, United holds the following investments, accounted for using the equity method, with a combined carrying value of approximately $208 million:
CommuteAir LLC. United owns a 40% minority ownership stake in CommuteAir LLC. CommuteAir currently operates 61 regional aircraft under a capacity purchase agreement ("CPA") that has a term through 2026.
Republic Airways Holdings Inc. United holds a 19% minority interest in Republic Holdings Inc., which is the parent company of Republic Airways Inc. ("Republic"). Republic currently operates 66 regional aircraft under CPAs that have terms through 2036.
United Airlines Ventures Sustainable Flight Fund (the "Fund"). During the first quarter of 2023, United launched, through its corporate venture capital arm, United Airlines Ventures ("UAV"), an investment vehicle designed to support start-ups focused on decarbonizing air travel by accelerating the research, production and technologies associated with sustainable aviation fuel ("SAF"). The Fund started with more than $100 million in commitments from United and other corporate investors, collectively, as limited partners. UAV transferred certain of its existing SAF investments to the Fund's portfolio. As of March 31, 2023, the Company indirectly holds a 49.99% ownership interest in the Fund.
Blue Blade Energy, LLC ("Blue Blade"). UAV holds a 20% minority interest in Blue Blade, a joint venture with Tallgrass Energy Partners, LP, and Green Plains Inc. to develop and then commercialize a novel SAF technology that uses ethanol as its feedstock.
Other Investments. As of March 31, 2023, United has equity investments in Avianca Group International Limited, a multinational airline holding company, JetSuiteX, Inc., an independent air carrier doing business as JSX as well as a number of companies with emerging technologies and sustainable solutions. 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 March 31, 2023, the carrying value of these investments was $413 million.