A storage device for stackable containers for conveying items, in particular items of luggage in a sorting conveyor system in an airport, includes a lifting conveyor with a container receiving device which can be guided between upper and lower conveying planes for storing at least one container. A conveyor is disposed in the upper conveyor plane for guiding storage containers to a transfer position and a discharge conveyor is disposed in the upper conveyor plane for discharging stored containers from a transfer position. A moving device moves a container from the transfer position to the empty container receiving device or to a container placed on the uppermost part of the container receiving device and moves the most upper container placed on the container receiving device to the transfer position. As a result, empty containers can be received, housed and guided back in a simple and cost effective manner.