Air cargo at European airports fell 11.7 percent year-on-year in August and passenger traffic dropped 4.5 percent, airports body ACI Europe said Friday.

The Airports Council International freight figure -- a widely-watched indicator of economic health -- continued an improving trend that started this summer.

Freight traffic fell 13.4 percent year-on-year in July, compared with an average 22.4 percent decrease in the preceding six months.