DOHA, July 14 (Reuters) - Qatar Airways signed an agreement to purchase 49 percent of Italian airline Meridiana on Thursday, the Gulf-based carrier said in a statement.

The agreement is "subject to the fulfilment of certain conditions, before the closing which is planned for early October," Qatar Airways said.

It said in June it had reached an impasse in negotiations to buy the stake due to disagreements over working conditions.

(Reporting by Tom Finn; editing by Jason Neely) ((Tom.Finn@thomsonreuters.com;))