BERLIN, March 4 (Reuters) - Qatar Airways will soon

place a sizeable order for wide-body jets to underpin its

longer-term growth plans, the airline's chief commercial officer

told Reuters late on Monday.

"To secure the growth of tomorrow by continuing to have a

very strong and the best fleet in the industry, our CEO is

working on the RFP (request for proposal) with the aircraft

manufacturer to place a big order soon," CCO Thierry Antinori

said.

He added the contract would be announced next month,

declining to say whether it will be signed with Airbus,

Boeing ( BA ) or under a split deal with both.