Measurements of gain, loss, threshold current, device efficiency and spontaneous emission of 2.5-2.82 mum In(Al)GaASSb/GaSb quantum-well diode lasers have been performed over a wide temperature range. The experimental results show that the thermal excitation of holes from the quantum wells into the waveguide where they recombine, but not Auger recombination, limits the continuous-wave room-temperature output power of these lasers, at least up to lambda = 2.82 mum. An approach to extend the wavelength of In(Al)GaASSb/GaSb diode lasers beyond 3 mum is discussed.