The invention provides a system and method of providing service coverage for the provision of data services to a target aircraft comprising the step of configuring one or more other aircraft in an area at a specific time such that the data services can be provided via a radio or communication link to the target aircraft via the one or more other aircraft; and predicting a data services requirement in an area and configuring a pattern of communication links with the one or more other aircraft and the target aircraft to maintain the predicted data services.