An apparatus for satellite beam handover management for aircraft in a satellite communication system comprising a plurality of satellite beams, comprising: a processor ; memory in electronic communication with the processor; and instructions stored in the memory; wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to: retrieve flight plan data for a plurality of aircraft being provided a network access service for passengers via the satellite communication system; identify , for each aircraft of the plurality of aircraft based at least in part on the flight plan data, respective candidate satellite beams of the plurality of satellite beams for providing the network access service over a service timeframe; obtain , for the plurality of satellite beams for the service timeframe, a beam utilization score indicative of predicted beam utilization over the service timeframe; select , over the service timeframe, satellite beams for providing the network access service for each aircraft of the plurality of aircraft based at least in part on the beam utilization scores for the respective candidate satellite beams; and schedule at least one handover for at least one of the plurality of aircraft to a selected satellite beam during the service timeframe. a processor ; memory in electronic communication with the processor; and instructions stored in the memory; wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to: retrieve flight plan data for a plurality of aircraft being provided a network access service for passengers via the satellite communication system; identify , for each aircraft of the plurality of aircraft based at least in part on the flight plan data, respective candidate satellite beams of the plurality of satellite beams for providing the network access service over a service timeframe; obtain , for the plurality of satellite beams for the service timeframe, a beam utilization score indicative of predicted beam utilization over the service timeframe; select , over the service timeframe, satellite beams for providing the network access service for each aircraft of the plurality of aircraft based at least in part on the beam utilization scores for the respective candidate satellite beams; and schedule at least one handover for at least one of the plurality of aircraft to a selected satellite beam during the service timeframe. retrieve flight plan data for a plurality of aircraft being provided a network access service for passengers via the satellite communication system; identify , for each aircraft of the plurality of aircraft based at least in part on the flight plan data, respective candidate satellite beams of the plurality of satellite beams for providing the network access service over a service timeframe; obtain , for the plurality of satellite beams for the service timeframe, a beam utilization score indicative of predicted beam utilization over the service timeframe; select , over the service timeframe, satellite beams for providing the network access service for each aircraft of the plurality of aircraft based at least in part on the beam utilization scores for the respective candidate satellite beams; and schedule at least one handover for at least one of the plurality of aircraft to a selected satellite beam during the service timeframe. <EOS>