Agentic AI vs Traditional AI: What’s the Difference?
Traditional AI handles recommendations—it might suggest when to open more security lanes based on historical data.
Agentic AI, however, takes action: it executes decisions and monitors outcomes live, acting as both brains and hands in the system. It’s proactive, adaptive, and built for dynamic environments like airports.
Global Trends: Who’s Leading the Charge?
Singapore’s Changi Airport
Under its “SMART Airport Vision,” Changi is experimenting with agentic AI to smooth passenger journeys. If a flight delays or a passenger falls ill, the system might automatically launch clean-up crews, trigger service recovery actions, or make timely announcements—minimizing friction and human workload.
Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport
India’s first AI-powered digital twin arrived in late 2024, courtesy of GMR Airports. This virtual replica oversees airside, landside, and terminal operations in real time through its AI-enabled Airport Predictive Operation Centre (APOC). It delivers:
- Intelligent crowd and queue management
- Behavior analytics for both efficiency and security
- Virtual simulations for scenario planning
- Smart traffic and IoT-driven parking controls
India’s Bold Move: Delhi’s UTAM System
Launched in March 2025, Delhi Airport’s Unified Total Airside Management (UTAM) platform shifts operations into the future. Developed in-house by DIAL (with WAISL), UTAM unites airlines, ground handlers, and airport authorities in one collaborative domain, powered by AI, ML, IoT, and radar systems.
Key UTAM features include:
- Mile View 10-40-70: Real-time aircraft tracking within 10, 40, and 70-mile radii
- Vehicle and Equipment Tracking: Monitors baggage trolleys, fuel trucks, and ground equipment with path deviation alerts
- Flight Hovering & Parking Monitoring: Identifies hovering aircraft and optimizes stand usage
- Safety Mechanisms: Alerts for vehicle over-speeding, geofence violations, and playback review for incident analysis
- Collaborative Efficiency: Enhances turnaround speed, minimizes delays, and improves stakeholder coordination
India’s first-of-its-kind UTAM pilot rolled out with Akasa Airlines, with phased rollouts planned across other carriers over the following months.
The Sky One Vision: Agenting with a Safety Net
Jaideep Mirchandani, Group Chairman of Sky One, envisions airports employing agentic AI as intelligent assistants—not replacements. These AI agents will:
- Analyze live CCTV, baggage scanners, and terminal data
- Flag erratic behavior or anomalies early
- Forecast passenger flows and manage checkpoints dynamically
- Allocate staff and infrastructure in real time
But according to Mirchandani, human perceptiveness remains irreplaceable. Final decisions—especially in high-stakes scenarios—must remain human-led. Mirchandani underscores: the future lies in teamwork—agentic AI plus human oversight.
Wrapping Up
Agentic AI is not sci-fi—it’s here, reshaping airports from Dubai to Delhi. Systems like UTAM and digital twins bring agility, safety, and smoother journeys to life. But as far as the future goes, humans aren’t stepping off the runway. Instead, they’re confident copilots ensuring that AI agitation leads not to chaos—but to a better travel experience.
TL; DR
- Agentic AI acts, not just advises; now seeing real rollout in airports.
- Changi is experimenting with proactive systems for delays and service recovery.
- Hyderabad rolled out India’s first AI airport digital twin via GMR’s APOC.
- Delhi UTAM system—launched March 2025—integrates AI, ML, IoT, radar for airside efficiency, safety, and stakeholder coordination.
- Sky One’s Jaideep Mirchandani champions AI augmentation, not replacement, with human oversight as the final caller.
Jaideep Mirchandani
Source: 100 Knots
