Was the motto ‘Keep it in the family’? Fact is that after over 30 years in the driving seat of Belgian taxi and private hire association GTL, Claude Delire hands over the reins to his son, Marc Delire. Marc is director of Brussels taxi company Taxis Autolux (130 vehicles, 300 employed drivers), one of the top-3 taxi companies in Belgium. Taxis Autolux is best known for its airport work: it is the main taxi company at Brussels Airport.

As new GTL chairman Delire Jr. will be focusing on competition with illegal apps which don’t respect existing taxi and private hire regulation when it comes to using licensed drivers, insured vehicles and paying taxes and social security. At the same time he will be promoting apps originating from within the taxi trade using properly licensed taxis and drivers. Delire also sees a wider role for the taxi in Belgium’s public transport.

With Marc Delire at the helm, GTL’s new board looks like this: vice-chairman Frank Van Oorschot, secretary-general Pierre Van Steenberghen, treasurer Rudy Claude.

• Claude Delire (front) listens attentively to his son Marc’s speech marking the end of an era.