A system for loading and unloading cargo into and from a cargo compartment of a vehicle, such as an aircraft, comprising: - a cargo receiving device adapted to receive and secure items of packed or bulk cargo, said cargo receiving device comprising a base structure arrangement having a lower contact surface, and a locking mechanism adapted to engage one or more corresponding holding members provided in a cargo compartment of a vehicle, such as an aircraft, and - a transport device for transporting the cargo receiving device to a desired position in or out of a cargo compartment of a vehicle, said transport device comprising a transport structure arrangement having a upper contact surface adapted to be disposed in abutting contact to said lower contact surface of the cargo receiving device and to support the cargo receiving device by means of the abutting contact, a drive unit adapted to effect movement of the transport device relative and parallel to a surface on which the transport device is disposed, a lift unit adapted to effect movement of the transport structure arrangement relative and transversely to a surface on which the transport device is disposed, and an actuating unit adapted to actuate the locking mechanism of the cargo receiving device. - a cargo receiving device adapted to receive and secure items of packed or bulk cargo, said cargo receiving device comprising a base structure arrangement having a lower contact surface, and a locking mechanism adapted to engage one or more corresponding holding members provided in a cargo compartment of a vehicle, such as an aircraft, and a base structure arrangement having a lower contact surface, and a locking mechanism adapted to engage one or more corresponding holding members provided in a cargo compartment of a vehicle, such as an aircraft, and - a transport device for transporting the cargo receiving device to a desired position in or out of a cargo compartment of a vehicle, said transport device comprising a transport structure arrangement having a upper contact surface adapted to be disposed in abutting contact to said lower contact surface of the cargo receiving device and to support the cargo receiving device by means of the abutting contact, a drive unit adapted to effect movement of the transport device relative and parallel to a surface on which the transport device is disposed, a lift unit adapted to effect movement of the transport structure arrangement relative and transversely to a surface on which the transport device is disposed, and an actuating unit adapted to actuate the locking mechanism of the cargo receiving device. a transport structure arrangement having a upper contact surface adapted to be disposed in abutting contact to said lower contact surface of the cargo receiving device and to support the cargo receiving device by means of the abutting contact, a drive unit adapted to effect movement of the transport device relative and parallel to a surface on which the transport device is disposed, a lift unit adapted to effect movement of the transport structure arrangement relative and transversely to a surface on which the transport device is disposed, and an actuating unit adapted to actuate the locking mechanism of the cargo receiving device.