Gentlemen, reality check. VAA need feeder routes since this was mostly carried out by BMI. They now become attractive to Star Alliance as they can offer onward UK travel.
As for who does it, it was always going to done by an outside agency; so if you're in the business of making a fledgeling short haul outfit pay, or lose as little as possible on start up, then you would go for the best deal around.
As for stripping slots in 3 years time, i refer you to the above. Yes slots may be changed around and swapped with some other existing VAA long haul slots. But at the moment VAA are not in an expansion mode. Nairobi has been canned and i would guess Accra won't be far behind.
VAA need, no are desperate for a feeder outfit - fact.