MOSCOW, July 8 (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin scrapped Russia"s ban on charter flights to Egypt on Thursday, six years after suspending them for national security seasons in the aftermath of a plane crash. The flights were stopped after a Metrojet plane taking Russian holidaymakers back from Sharm el-Sheikh to St Petersburg broke up over the Sinai Peninsula in October 2015, killing 224 people. Russia concluded the plane was destroyed by a bomb. A group affiliated with Islamic State militants claimed responsibility. Putin"s decree lifting the ban will be a boon for Egypt"s year-round resorts in Sharm al-Sheikh and Hurghada which attracted large numbers of Russians in the past. Egypt later on Thursday welcomed the decision in a foreign ministry statement saying that it looks forward to the quick return of Russian tourists. Russia and Egypt agreed to resume all flights in a call in April between Putin and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Egypt"s presidency said at the time. read more