Dublin Airport is trialling a new initiative which will see a dedicated seating and private pod area for passengers who are travelling on their own.

MySpot pods also contain charging facilities and a compartment where hand luggage can be stored.

The service includes complimentary tea, coffee or water.

The seat can be reserved from €5 or the pod from €10, depending on availability.

They are on trial at Gate 103 in Terminal 1 until mid-December.

During the trial period, passengers will be greeted by a staff member who will explain the product to them.

Dublin Airport managing director Vincent Harrison says: "We conduct regular surveys throughout the year with our customers and we know that more than 56% of our passengers travel alone.

"Solo passengers typically grab a drink and a sandwich and proceed directly to their boarding gate.

"This group of passengers find it challenging carrying hand luggage and other items such as tea or coffee when travelling alone.

"The MySpot private seat and pod have been specifically designed to meet the needs of the solo passenger".

The pod is a bespoke design by Dubliner David O'Coimin, chief executive and founder of the Nook by Do Company.

If the trial is successful, it will be available at other boarding gates through an online booking system.

MySpot is one of a number of new projects being developed at the airport under an initiative known as 'The Future Factory', which creates and tests new projects around the airport campus.

Dublin Airport has welcomed almost 28.4 million passengers in the first 10 months of the year - a 5% increase over the same period in 2018.

Almost 1.4 million extra passengers have travelled through the airport between January and October.